2^^Si^ 




Qass. 

Book I A? >i? 



GAZETTEER 



OF THE 



mAm m w^w^'m^wmmm 



BY JOHN FARMER AN© JACOB B. MOORfc. 

^ti ,— 



EMBELLISHED WITH AN ACCURATE MAP OF THE STATE, A>"D 
SEVERAL OTHER ENGRAVINGS : BY ABEL BOWEN. 




cokcord: 

PFBLISHED BY JACOIi E. ilOORF, 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT, TO WIT : 

District Clerk's Office. 

******** T> E it remembered, that on the sixth day of IVIay, A. D. 1823,ftnd 
^ L. S. S t3 hi the forty-s.eventh year of the Independence of the United 
* * States of America, JOHN FARMER and JACOB BAILEY 

******** MOORE, of the said district, have deposited in this ofBce the title 
«f a book, the right whereof they claijn as authors, in the words following, 
to wit : " A Gazetteer of the State of New-Hampshire. By John Farmer and 
'* Jacob B. Moore. Embellished with an accurate Map of the State, and serer- 
** al other engravings : by Abel Bowen." In conformity to the act of the Con- 
|;rtss of the United States, entitled " An act for the encouragement of learn- 
Jng, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and pro- 
prietors of such copies,during the times therein mentioned ;'' and also, to an act, 
(Entitled, " An act supplementary to an act, entitled an act for the encourage- 
ment of learning by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the au- 
thors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and 
extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etch- 
ing historical and other prints." 

WILLIAM CLAGG^f T', Cferk of the District 

of ^eiv-tlranpshire, 
A *u« ^VT "f I'werd ;— . . 

Attest, WltttAM dLAGGfeTT, Cl^k. 



^v 



^ 



^ 



PREFACE. 

THE citizens of New-Hampshire are now presented with a new 
Gazetteer of the State, compiled from original and authentic mate- \ 

rials, and embracing the following subjects : 

I. A general view of the State of New-Hampshire, comprehending the boun- 
daries and area ; divisions ; face of the country ; soil and productions ; cli- 
mate ; health and longeA-ity ; mountains ; lakes and rivers ; canals ; turnpikes 
and bridges ; geology and mineralogy ; government and laws ; revenue and ex- 
penses ; militia ; population ; manufactures and commerce ; literary institu- 
tions ; education ; manners and customs ; religion ; societies ; banks ; state - 
house ; penitentiary ; curiosities ; Indians, and history. 

II. A general view of the Counties, topographical and historical ; with statis- 
tical tables, exhibiting the number of meeting-houses, school-houses, taverns, 
stores, mills, factories, &c., in each. 

III. A general description of Towns, and of all the mountains, lakes, ponds, 
vivers, &c., comprehending 1. A concise description of the several towns in the 
State, in relation to their boundai*ies, divisions, mountains, lakes, ponds, &c. 
2. The early histoi'y of each town ; names of the first settlers, and what were 
their hardships and adventures ; instances of longevity, or of great mortality ; 
and short biographical notices of the most distinguished and useful men. 3. A 
•oncise notice of the formation of the first churches in the several towns ; the 
names of those who have been successively ordained as ministers, and the time 
of their settlement, removal or death. Also, notices of permanent charitable 
and other institutions, literary societies, &c. 

It is unnecessary to offer an apology to the public for the appearance 
of a work, the utility of which, if well executed, no one will question. 
We rather claim indulgence, that so long a period has elapsed, since we 
first announced our intended publication. To have completed it at an 
earlier period, was originally our intention ; and it was not until several 
months of diligent inquiry had passed, that we understood the diificulty 
of the task in which we had engaged. Though in many cases, we have 
had prompt and able assistance, the difficulty of procuring the necessa- 
ry information in others, has caused ho inconsiderable anxiety and de- , 
lay. Few men are intimately acquainted with the early history of 
their own towns — the generation active in the first settlements having 
passed away, and little pains being taken to preserve their history. Few- 
er still have the leisure or patience necessary to pore over musty re- 
oords or ancient files, for the gratification of their curiosity, or the mere 



IV FREFACE. ' 

chance of finding perhaps some single fact, buried like the diamond in a 
mass of rubbish. While, on the one hand, our anxiety increased to 
finish the work, and be rid of its labor ; we felt, on the other, a strong 
obligation to retain it in our hands, until we could give it at least a tol- 
erable degree of accuracy. The book is at length completed. And em- 
bracing, as it does, a great variety of information, we cannot but hope it 
may be useful to the public. To escape errors entirely, was impossi- 
ble ; but we trust their number and magnitude will be found as •mall as 
the nature of such an undertaking will permit. In our biographical noti- 
ces, it was our intention to present facts,rather than estimates of charac- 
ter. Many worthy and eminent persons we may not have noticed ; and 
our excuse must he the want of necessary information. In the sev- 
eral statistical tables, we have conformed to the latest returns received* 
The population at the present time is in some instances given ; but 
more generally that of 1820. Distances are generally given from the 
centre of the towns, or from the principal village. They are stated from 
the most correct information we could obtain. When the distance is 
said to he from Concord, the seat of government is intended. The 
names of clergymen now in office are printed in italics. At the close 
of the work will be found some additional facts, relating to the several 
towns, which came to our knowledge after the book had been put to 
press ; and also some corrections. In the appendix is given a table of 
population at different periods, and also a list of the former names of 
the several towns. 

In the prosecution of our labors, we have been much indebted to the 
obliging attentions of Samuel SparhAwk, Esq., the Secretary of 
State ; to the Hon. William Plumer, Hon. Samuel Bell, Prof. 
James F. Dana, Gen. Joseph Low, Adijyo N. BRACKETT.Esq. and 
others. Wc would gladly tender our acknowledgments to our numer- 
ous correspondents individually ; but trust tliat a sufficient reason for 
the omission will be seen in the fact, that we have written, received 
and consulted more than a thousand letters and communications. We 
lay claim to no merit, other than that of patience and an unwearied ef- 
fort to be correct. How far we have succeeded in our labors, and wheth- 
er we shall receive an adequate reward, will appear, when the public 
shall have had time to ex-amine, and shall fe«l disposed to patroai^e 
the work. 



©jiisfiMiL www 

OF THE 

COMPREHENDING 

boitndaries and area ; divisions ; face of the country, 
Soil and Productions; Climate; Health and Longevi- 
ty; Mountains; Lakes and Rivers; Canals; Turnpikes 
and Bridges; Geology and Mineralogy; Government 
and Laws; Revenue and Expenses; Militia; Popula- 
tion; Manufactures and Commerce; Literary Insti- 
tutions ; Education ; Manners and Customs ; Religion ; 
Societies; Banks; State-House; Penitentiary; Curi- 
osities; Indians; History. 



Boundaries and Area. — The state of New-Harapshire is situat- 
ed between 42°, 41', and 45°, 11', north latitude ; and between 70° 40', 
and 72°, 28', longitude west from Greenwich. Its extreme length from 
north to south is 168 miles — its greate?t width, 90 miles. North of lat. 
43°, the state decreases iu width, and at the northern extremity is onlv 19 
miles wide. This stale is bounded N. on the highlands between Lower 
Canada and the United States ; W. by the western bank of Connecticut 
river, from its northerly source to the south point of Hinsdale, below 
the entrance of Ashuelot river: S. by Massachusetts; E. by the Atlan- 
tic, a distance of eighteen miles, and by the state of Maine. This ter- 
ritory comprises an area of 9,491 square miles, or 6,074,240 acres, in- 
cluding about 110,000 acres of water. 
B 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Divisions. — The state is divided into six counties, and two hundred 
seventeen towns, beside several locations and grants, and the public 
lands. 

STATISTICAL TABLE. 



COUNTIES. 


No. j POPULATION. j SEATS OF JUS- j 


Twns 

45 


1790. 


1800. 1 1810. ! 1820. 1 TICE. 1 


Rockinghara.. 


43.169 


45.427 


50,1 75i 55.2461 Concord, Exeter. 1 


Strafford 


31 


23,742 


32.878 


41,595 


51.117 


Dover, Gilford. 


Hillsborough.. 


42 


32,871 


43,J99 


49,249 


53,884 


Amherst, Hoi>k'n. 


Cheshire 


37 


28,772 


38,825 


40,988 


45,376 


Kcene, Churlesin. 


Grafton 


37 


12,449 


20.171 


23,462 


32,989 


Have rhill, Flymo. 


Coos 


25 


882 


2,658 


3,991 


5,549 


Lancaster. 


Total, 


217ll41,R85!l83.85cS'214.460l244,161 





Face or the Country, Soil and Productions.— The whole 
extent of our sea-ccast is but eighteen miles, from the S. E. corner of the 
town of Seabrook to the mouth of the Pascataqua. The shore is in most 
places a sandy beach, bordered by salt-marshes. For the distance of 20 
or 30 miles back from the sea, the country is generally level, occasionally 
diversified with hills and valleys. Beyond this, the hills increase in size 
and number, and in many parts of the state swell into lofty mountains, 
particularly in the north, and along the heights between the Merrimack 
and Connecticut. The highest summits between these two rivers, are, 
the Monadnock, in Dublin ; Sunapee mountain, in Fishersfield ; Kcar- 
sarge, in Warner; Carr's mountain, in Ellsworth and Warren, and the 
Moosch.illock, or Mooshelock, in Coventry. But the highest mountains 
in the state, and the most elevated on this side the Mississippi, are the 
fVhite Mountains. The scenery about these mountains, and other nu- 
merous elevations— the lakes, cascades, &c. are exceedingly beautiful ; 
nnd the classic author of the state map has very properly styled it" the 
Switzerland of America." 

The soil cf NewHamps' ire is generally fertile, presenting in differ- 
ent sections all the varietiej common to New-England. The best lands 
are undoubtedly those on the borders of our larger rivers, which bein^' 
frequently covered by the waters, are enriched by the sediment left when 
they subside. Oui* wide spreading hill 3, being of a rocky, moist and 
warm soil, afford the greenest pasturag-e and support immense numbers 
of cattle and sheep. Barrens in any extent are unknown, and with the 
exception of the wild and unexplored regions of the north, the state is 
very generally capable of cultivation. 

The great pursuit of the inhabitants is, and must continue to be agri- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 7 

culture-,* and in this ait, improvements are constantly making. The in- 
troduction of gypsum, or ])laister of Paris, the establiahment and active 
exertions of agricultural societies, and the increased zeal of all profes- 
sions to promote the interests of the farmer, upon whom all ultimately 
depend — are circumstances highly favorable. Every opening which is 
made in our forests, displays for the use of man a soil that richly rewards 
cultivation. Maize, wheat, rye, oats, barley, flax, &c. are the common 
products; and vast quantities of pork, b«;ef, mutton, poultry, buttei and 
cheese are annually exported. Hemp has in sonie instances been suc- 
cessfully cultivated, and, it is believed, might be made a source of great 
profit to the farmer. The quantities raised of different productions on 
the acre are various. On the intervals which border our rivers, wheat 
often yields 20 or 30 b«shels, though from 15 to 20 is considered a good 
crop. Indian corn will average 30 or 40 bushels to the acre, and pota- 
toes fi-om 200 to 300. Instances of extraordinary crops, however, prove 
that with due cultivation our soil may in general be made to yield in far 
greater profusion. 

Of FRUIT we have a variety. No country in the world produces more 
abundant crops of apples, and our cider, by proper management, may 
be made of the first quality. Peaches, and other fruit requiring a warm 
climate, do not flourish here ; but pears, plums, cherries, and various ex- 
cellent wild fiuits grow in abundance. Prunes of fine flavor are found 
in the neighborhood of Lancaster. Our gardens, though less attention 
is paid to them than taste or usefulness would seem to require, still fur- 
nish a long list of fruits and vegetables that grow in abundance and in 
great variety. 

The Botany of New-Hampshire should of itself form the subject of a 
volume. Our native forest trees are lofty and luxuriant. No country pro- 
daces better timber, and vast quantities are annually exported. This 
state was originally an entire forest— the mountainous regions covered 
with a thick growth of oak, maple, beech, walnut, hemlock, fir, white 
pine, &c. ; the plains and valleys with the elm, cherry, ash, poplar, horn- 
beam, birch, sumach, locust, and many others. Of the pine we have 
several varieties. The white pine is perhaps the noblest tree in the 
world : its stem, though sometimes of the height of 200 feet, is perfect- 
ly straight, and crowned with a beautiful tuft of green. It sometimes 



^ • The number engaged in agricuUuve in New-Haiupshire, in 1820, was 52,334; 
tu commerce, 1,068; in manufactures, 8,699. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



exceeds six feet ia diameter.* The pitch pine, which also grows to a 
great height, is a beautiful tree. The hemlock is often a tree of great 
height and size. The fir and other species of pine grow to a more mod- 
erate height. Of the oak, elm, birch, maple, &c. we have varieties. — 
The hard, or rock maple, is the sugar maple of this region, and grows 
to a great height, yielding a sap which makes the finest sugar. The red 
and white maple also yield sugar, but in less quantities than the hard. 

Of wild plants and roots valuable for culinary and medicinal purposes, 
we have a great variety. The ginseng, so much esteemed by the Chi- 
nese, and long supposed to be found only in China and Tartary, is found 
in abundance and of good quality. The buck bean grows in Peterbor- 
ough and some other places; the true uvaursi, or bear's whortle-berry, 
and comus sericea, or large flowering dogwood, at Kingston and in oth- 
«r parts. Lobelia, henbane, cicuta, &c. are common in various parts 
of the state. 

Climate, &c. — The climate varies in temperature from a range of 
the thermometer of 15° below the zero of Fahrenheit to 95° above it. 
The mercury rarely descends to 20° below 0, except in an unusually cold 
winter. In the month of February, 1818, during several days, jt sunk 
from 20 to 30° below 0, and once, oa the 11th, at 7, A. M. it descended 
to 32°. In several winters since, in dift'erent parts of the state, it has 
been noticed at 20° below 0. The highest degree which has been no- 
ticed for the last seventeen years, wia^ii July, 1811, when the mercury 
was at 98°; and in July, 1820, when it stood at 100°. Such instance* 
very rarely occur. The air of New-Hampshire is pure and salubrious. 
During the winter months, the prevailing wind is generally from the 
N. W., the coldness of which has been attributed to various causes. — 
Kuropaan philosophers have supposed the cold of our N. W. winds to 
proceed/roni the great lakes, which lie in the interior of Nerth-America. 
But since it has been fully known that the great lakes lie westward of the 
true N. W. point, this opinion has been exploded. A second cause to 
which the coldness of these winds has been attributed is, a chain of 
high mountains running from S. W. to JV. E. in Canada and New- 
Britain, at a great distance beyond the St. Lawrence. A third opinion 
is that of the venerable Dr. Holyoke, of Salem, who supposes that the 
numerous evergreens in this country arc the source of the peculiar cold 

* " Anno 1736, near Merrimack livev, a little above Dunstable, was cut a whit« 
»ine, straight and sound, 7 ftet 8 inches in diameter at the butt end." 
*^ * Dmglais, V9l. tu p, SS, 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 9 



which it ex]>eriences. A /fourth opinion is, that the coldness of these 
winds proceeds from the forested state of the country. The late Pres- 
ident D*vight enterl?>ined an opinion diflerent from all those we have 
mentioned, viz. that the winds which generate the peculiar cold of 
this country descend, in most cases, from the superior regions of the at- 
mosphere.^ The N. W. wind rarely brings snow, but when it does, the 
degree of cold is increased. The deepest snows fall with a N. E. wind, 
and «iorms from that quarter are most violent and of Jongest duration. 
On the mount»ins, the snow falls earlier and remains later than in the 
low grounds. On those elevated summits, the winds have greater force 
in driving the saow into the long and deep gullies of the mountains^, 
where it is so consolidated, as not to be dissolved by the vernal sun. — 
Spots of snow are seen on the south sides of mountains as late as May, 
and on the highest till July. A S. E. storm is often as violent, but com- 
monly shorter, than one from the N. E. If it begin with snow, it soon 
changes to ram. A brisk wind from the W. or S. W. with snow or rain, 
sonoetimes happens, but its duration is very short. Squalls of this kind 
are common in March. 

One of the greatest inconveniences suffered by the inhabitants of our 
country, is derived from the frequent changes in the state of the atmos- 
phere. At Portsmouth, in January, 1810, the change of temperature in 
about 24 hours was 44° of Fahrenheit. In other places it was equally 
great. Similar changes, which are disagreeable and cannot but be inju- 
rious to health, are frequent, though not in the seme degree. Changes 
from wet to dry, and from dry to wet, are at times unpleasant, and prob- 
ably unhealthy. There is no month in the year which is not sometimes 
very pleasant, and sometimes disagreeable. In a series of years, our 
roost pleasant months are June, September and October. Often the first 
two, and not unfrequently the first three weeks in September are, howev- 
er, very warm. From the 20th of September to the 20th of October, 
the weather is debghtful. The temperature is mild, the air is sweet, and 
the sky singularly bright and beautiful. This is the period denominated 
the Indian Summer. Some persons will think June to be a more pleasant 
month than either September or October. In June, there are usually a 
few days of intense heat. In all other respects, except the brilliancy 
and beauty of the heavens, this month itaust be confessed to have the su- 



• See Dwight's Travels, vol. i. page 65. 
B2 



10 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 

periorily over those last mentioned. The prog^ress of vegetation is vFon- 
derful ; and it seems as if the creative hand was, in the literal sense, re- 
nevving its original plastic efforts, to adorn the world vvith richness and 
splendor. All things are tlive and gay. " The little hills rejoice on ev- 
ery side. The pastures are clethed with flocks. The valleys are also 
covered wflh corn, and shout for joy." Health at the same time pre- 
vails in a peculiar degree. The Spring is often chilled by easterly wind* 
and rendered uacomfo.-table by rains. The Winter is the season for en- 
joyment to the active part of the community. 

The number of fair days in a year compared with the cloudy, is a? 3 
to 1. We have had but few meteorological journals kept and published 
in this state. For several years past they have become more frequent, 
and it is hoped, that from the increasmg attention to the subject, com- 
parative results of the weather will become more numerous and exact. 
[For further remarks on this subject, the reader is referred to Belknap^s 
Hist. N. H. and Dwight's Travels in New-England, &c.] 

Health and Longevity.— New-Hampshire may be justly, qon8Ji<Jr 
ered a healthy section of our country. Epidemics have seldom spread 
throughout the state. The most memorable were the cynanche maligna, 
or putrid sore throat, which first made its appearance at Kingston, iij 
May, 1735, and the petechial, or spotted fever, which appeared in differ- 
ent places in 1811 and several succeeding years. The healthiness of thi$ 
state may, in a general manner, be estimated from the increase of its in- 
habitants, and from the great number of instances of longevity which it 
has furnished. We have only room to noticj these instances where per- 
sons have attained their hundredth year, or have lived, or exceeded a 
complete century. These, so far as practicable, will be given in chrono- 
logical order. 

Instances of longevity in ifew-Hamfishire, with the places ofre^id^e and the time 
when each person died, and their ages, 
1732 William Perkins, of New-Market, 116 

1736 John Buss, of Durham, 108 

1739 James Wilson, of Chester, 100 

1754 William Scoby, of Londondepqr, 110 

1754 James Shirley, of Chester, ' 105 

1765 Elizabeth Hight, of Newington, 100 

1772 Howard Henderson, of Dover, 100 

1775 William Craige, of Chester, 100 

1775 Mrs. Craige, (his wife) of Chester. 100 

1775 Mrs. Lear, of Portsmouth, 103 

1775 Mr». Mayo, of Portsmouth, 106 

1717 Rob«rt Macklin, of Wakefield, 115 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. n 



1789 Mrs. Ulrick, of Hollis, 104 

1790 Mrs. Hayley, of Exeter, JOI 

1791 Jacob Green, of Hanover, IQO 
1791 Widow Davis, jq2 
1791 James Shirley, of Chester, 10© 
1793 Janaes Wilson, of Chester, 100 
1800 Sarah Newrnarcb, of Portsmouth, 101 

1800 Thomas Wason. of Chester, 100 

1801 Ezekiel Leathers, of Durham, 100 

1802 Abednego Leathers, of Durham, 101 
1806 Hannah J.ovejoy, of Amherst, 102 
1808 Martha Chesmore, of Dunbarton, 101 
1808 Daniel Davis, of Allenstown, 105 
1808 Margaret Bacon, 101 
1808 Mrs. M'Clench, of Merrimack, 100 
1808 Martha Porter, of Lebanon, 100 

1808 Catherine Sherburne, of Conway, 101 

1809 Joshua Foss, of Harrington, 100 

1810 Catharine Sanborn, of Sanbornton, 100 
1810 Mrs. Hixon, of Portsmouth, 100 

1810 Tabitha Bobonnon, of Salisbury, 101 

1811 Mrs. M'Intire, of Goffstown, 106' 
1811 Ezra Deolpb, of HopkintoB, 102 
1811 Marv Bean, of Sutton, 100 
1811 Nathan Blake, of Keene, lOQ 

1811 Benjamin Conner, of Exeter, 100 

1812 James Afwood* of Pelham, 100' 

1813 Joanna Hixon, of Newington, 105- 
1813 Mary Davidson, of Gotfstown, IQO 
1815 Anna Leavitt, of Hampton, 100 
1815 Sarah Morse, of Salem, 100 
1815 John Shaw, of Holderness, 101, 

1815 John Crocker, of Richmond, 100 

1816 Elizabeth Richards, of Newingtoo, lt)r 
1S16 Phebe Dow, of Seabrook, 101 

1816 Zene, (a negro) of Nottingham, 101 

1817 Elizabeth Darling, of Portsmouth, 102 
1817 Elizabeth Pitman, of Epsom, 100 
1817 Abigail Craig, of Rumnev^ I05- 
1817 Mrs. Bunker, of Barnstead, 105 

1817 Mary Fernald, of Portsmouth, 100 

1818 Hannah Foss, of Gilraanton, 103 
1818 Dorcas Rowe, of Meredith, 100' 
1818 Dye, (of Indian descent) ef Ex«ter, lOS 

1818 Corydon. (a negro) of Exeter, IQQ 

1819 EleanorPike, of Meredith, 101 
1819 Jacob Davis, of Sutton, 105 

1819 William Pr«scott, of Gilford, 102 

1820 Dorothy Creighton, of Epping, 101 
1820 Samuel Downs, of Somejrsworth, 109 



12 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



1820 Wi-:'. Cilley. of Poplin, 101 
18-n Jonathan Foster, of Mason, 101 

1821 Jor.iHia Aplin, of Keene, 100 
1821 Jane M'I-c1!ho, of Wentwortb, ^ 100 
1821 Mr?. Godln-y, of Deerfield, 101 

1821 Mary Smith, of Salem, 101 

1822 Reuben Abbot, of Coacord, 100 
1822 Thomas Walker, of Siiiton, 103 

Of uncertain date. 
Mr. Lovewell, of Dunstable, (fathe-to Col. Zaccheu? Lovewel!, 

mentioned in Btlknap's Hist. N. H. vol. ii. page 233) aged 120 
Mrs. Belkna;), of Atkinson, 107 

Mrs. Tucker, of Rye, 100 

Mrs. lieals. of Keene, 101 

Mrs. Parker, of Chesterfield, 103 

Mrs.. Wf Ich, of Rumney, 100 

Besides the preceding list of aged persons who have deceased, there 
are still living in this state the following persons over 100 years of age : 
Tryphena Stiles, of Soroersworth, 101; Sarah XeZ/ey, of New-Hamp- 
ton, 103; Mrs. Bailey, of Chesterfield, 101 ; Mary Barnard, of Am- 
herst, 101 ; and the venerable Samuel Welch, of Bow, in his 113th year. 
The annual average number of deaths in New-Hampshire, is estimat- 
ed at about 3000. This number has been obtained by taking the mean 
annual average of a nnmber of towns in diffe' ent parts of the state for a 
series of years, and making a comparison, by the rule of proportion, be- 
tween those towns and the other towns in the state. 

MouNT^AiNS. — The mountains of New-Hampshire, particularly in 
the north part of the state, furnish a rich profusion oi the sublime and 
beautiful. They are the highest on this side of Mexico, and are not ex- 
ceeded in wildness and grandeur by the mountains of Europe. 'Tis true 
our majestic hills are not yet adorned with classical recollections, like 
the Pays de Vaud, or the pass of St. Bernard, still we have the infinitely 
varied landscape of forest-covered hills, woods, groves, orchards, villas, 
and all that can charm in the magnificence of nature. Those who can- 
not have an opportunity to visit the Cordilleras, or Mont-Blanche, or 
other towering hills of the old and new world, may here gratify their 
taste and curiosity by ascending the White Mountains. Here, although 
they can see no " blue Rhone" rushing or meandering at their ieet, they 
may behold the majestic Connecticut rolling along the valley— the Mer- 
rimack streaming from the bowels of the mountain— and the Saco tum- 
bling down its sides. 
The first range of hills in this stale is about 30 miles from t'ue sea, ex- 




f'r llif /lii/fhls of\\l,'iiiif,iiiis<s:(. in X^HninpsJurc. 



NEW- HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 13 



tending through Rochester, Nottingham, &c. and of no great height. 
Further back, Moose and Ossipee mountaius appear, of higher eleva- 
tion. The White Mountain range extends from the western part of the 
state,between the waters of the Connecticut and Merrimack, N. by E. till 
beyond the sources of the Pemigewasset, and thence N. E. by N. towards 
the sources of the Amcriscoggin. The Sunapee and Monadnock moun- 
tains are parts of the grand chain. For a particular description of these 
mountains, see articles under their respective heads. There aixs several 
ranges of mountains north of Lancaster.extending from the neighborhood 
of Connecticut river, id a right angled direction to its course. The first 
is Little Moosehillock, beginning in Northumberland and running east 
toward the north limit of the White Mountains. The second is called 
the Peaks, and commences in Stratford. The third range lies north of 
Stratford. The fourth is the range of Preston hills, in Columbia. There 
are no other mountains in New-England which run in the same direc- 
tion. 

The plate annexed will aftbrd a very correct view of the comparative 
heights of our principal mountains. Their altitudes have been ascer^- 
tained with much accuracy by means of the barometer and thermome- 
ter. The heights of Mounts Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Pleas- 
ant, the Moosehillock and Kearsarge, by Capt. Partridge ; the Mo- 
nadnock, Moose mountain, &c. by Dr. DANA ; and the limit of forest 
trees on the mountains, by Dr. BigeloW. 

Lakes and Rivers.— The largest body of water in New-Hamp- 
shire is Winnepisiogee lake. It is of very unequal width, varying from 
1 to 8 miles, and is 22 miles in length, from S. E. to N. W. Beside this 
lake, are Squam, Ossipee, JVeivfound, Sunapee and Spafford's lakes, and 
lake Connecticut, in the extreme north part of the state. A part of Um- 
bagog lake lies within this state, and its waters are discharged into the 
Ameriscoggin, which passes within a short distance of the lake. Five 
of the largest rivers in New-England have their principal sources in this 
state— the Connecticut, Merrimack, Ameriscoggin, Saco and Pascaia^ 
qua.* There are numerous other consideraole streams watering the va- 
rious parts of the state — all which are noticed under the proper beads. 

• In using this word in the following work, we sbal I foUew the orthography of 
Dr. Bellcnap. In our most a«cient records, it is written Pascataquack, but was 
most commonly pronounced Pascatowa. With the aboriginals, the last syllabl« 
probably bad a strong aspirate, as Patcata^mh, 



14 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Canals. — Twenty canal cempanies heve been incorporated in ibis 
state since the year 1776— some of which, however, were never organ- 
ized, and others never went into effectual operation. The canals on the 
Connecticut river are three : at Bellovvs-Falls, opposite Walpole ; at 
Waterqueechy, opposite Plainfield, and at While river, in Lebanon. — 
The expense of these woiks was about $36,000. The canals which 
unite the waters of the Merrimack with those of Boston harbor, were 
originated by public spirited individuals as early as 1789. From Boston 
a water communication has been opened by the Middlesex canal, tliro' 
twenty locks, a distance of twenty-seven miles, to (he Merrimack river at 
the bend in Che!msford,-at the cost of $520,000; thence the Merrimack 
was made boatable, by works at Wicassee falls in Massachuseits, at the 
expense of $14,000 ; through ihe Union locks and canals, over seven 
falls in the river, at the cost of $50,000; thence over Amoskeag falls, 
forty-five feet perpendicular height, thirty miles from the head of the ca- 
nal, at the cost of $50,000; thence over Hooksett falls, sixteen feet 
height, at the cost of $17,009; thence through Bow canal, twenty-fiv« 
feet height, at the expiJnse of $21,000, to the upper landing in Concord, 
eighty-five miles from Boston:— the whole cost amounting to $627,000. 
The communication which these great works have opened, is annually 
becoming more important to the country. 

In 1811, a charter was granted, which has since been renewed, em- 
powering a company of individuals to cut a canal and lock all the falls 
between the Winnepisiogee lake, and the Cocheco branch of the Pas* 
cataqua, below the landing in Dover. The distance is twenty seven 
miles. The waters of the lake are 452 feet above the level of the Pas- 
cataqua — and the fall would require fifty-three locks. The expense 
would not probably exceed $300,000. The opening of this canal, if 
it should hereafter be effected, will extend to more than fourteen hundred 
square miles of territory, bordering ©n ihe lake and rivers, the benefits 
of a boat navigation to Portsmouth. The communication might be 
made to extend still farther, beyond the lake to within three or four niiles 
of the Pemigewasset river ; and even beyond this, through Plymouth, as 
far as Wentwurth, if not into the Connecticut. The great advantages 
which would result from the accomplishment of this object, will, it is 
liOjifed, hereafter induce more successful efforts. The immense quanti- 
ties of fine timber on the borders of the lake and its numerous island*, 
would offer facilities in the building of vessels of war unequalled in the 
United Slates. And, in connection with the safe and commodious bar- 



NEW-HAMPSHTRE GAZETTEER. 15 



bor at Poitsnaouth, the opening of the canal would seem to be an object 
meriting- the attention of the national governaient. 

A company has also been incorporated for the purpose of continuiuji* 
the great works on the Merrinaack, and as a couaection with others 
contemplated to extend to (he Winnepisiogee lake in that direction. 
Independent of this connection, however, the utility of the design is un* 
quostionab'e — as it would greatly facilitate the Iranc of the inlei'ior 
with (he capital of New-England. But the expense of the work will 
probably defeat the enterprize, unless the aid of government is aftbrded. 

The canal long talked of between the Merrimack and Coimecticut riv- 
er?, through Sunapee lake, has been found to be impracticable. A sur- 
vey was made in 1816, and the fall each way from the lake to these ris^- 
ers was found to be more than 800 teet, much greater than that of the 
Languedoc canal, the largest in Europe. The expense of the locks and 
cenals would probably exceed two millions of dollars. 

Turnpikes and Bridges. — There have been created by the au- 
thority of this state fifty-three turnpike corporations, of which the foi 
lowing are the principal : 

The JVeio- Hampshire Turnpike Road, incorporated June. 1796 — from 
Pascataqua bridge, Durham, Lee, Barringlon, Nottingham, Northwood, 
Epsoin, Chichester, Concord, to Merrimack river — distance 36 miles. 

The Second JV. H. Turnpike Road, incorporated Dec. 26, 1799 — 
from Claremont, Unity, Lempster, Washington, corner of Windsor, of- 
Hillsborough and of Antrim, Deering, Francestown, corner of Lynde- 
borough and New-Boston, Mont- Vernon, Amherst — distance 50 miles — 
cost $80,000. 

The Third Turnpike Road in JVew- Hampshire, incorporated Dec. 
27, 1799 — from Bellows-Falls in Walpole, Westmoreland, Surry, Keene, 
Marlborough, Jaffrey, New-Ipswich, Ashby, Ms. in a direction toward 
Boston — distance 50 miles — cost $50,000. 

The Fourth JV". H. Turnpike Road, incorporated Dec. 1800— from 
Connecticut river, Lebanon, Enfield, corner of Grafton, Springfield.Wil- 
mot, Andover, Salisbury, Boscawen, to Merrimack river — distance 40 
miles. 

The Branch Road and Bridge Company — incorporated June 16, 1802 
— from Keene, corner of Swanzey, Marlborough, to nor(h line of Fitz- 
willlam— distance 7 miles 195 rods-- cost $7,510. 

The Fifth JV. H. Turnpike Road. 

The Sixth J\\ H. Turnpike Road and Bridge Com/y.tn?/— incorporat- 
ed June If^, 1302— from Brattleborough, Vt. bridge over Connecticut 
river, Hinsdale, W^inehciter, to Massachusette line ?.t Warwick— cost 
$10,000. 



16 NEW.HAMP3H1RE GAZETTEER. 

Proprietors Dover Turnpike Road — incorporated Dec. 21, 1803— 
from Dover, Somersworth, to Berwick, Me.— distance 4 1-2 miles. 

Coos Turnpike /2oad— incorporated Dec. 29, 1803— from Haverhill, 
Piermont, Warren— distance 12 miles — cost ^15,074. 

Orford Turnpike iZoarf— incorporated Dec. 27, 1803, 

The Tenth JV. H. Turnpike iioaci— incorporated Dec. 28, 1803— from 
west line of iBartlett, Nash and Sawyer's and Hart's Locations, through 
the notch of the White Hills— distance 20 miles— expense ^40,000. 

The Charlestown Turnpike Road — incorporated Dec. 27, 1803 — from 
Charlestown, Acworth, to Second N. H. Turnpike in Lempster— distance 
12 miles. 

The Mayhem Turnpike iJoai— incorporated Dec. 29, 1803— from 
New-Chester, Bristol, Hebron, corner of Plymouth, tovrard Haverhill — 
distance 17 miles. 

The Chester Turnpike jRoai— incorporated June 12, 1804 — from 
Pembroke, Allenstown, Candia, to Chester- -distance 14 miles.. 

The Londonderry Turnpike Road — incorporated June, 1804—- from 
Concord, Bow, Hooksett, Chester, Londonderry, corner of Windham, 
Salem, to line of Massachusetts — distance 35 miles. 

Grafton Turnpike J2oa(i— incorporated June 21, 1804 — from Orford, 
Lime, corner of Hanover, Canaan, Orange, Grafton, Danbury, New- 
Chester, to the Fourth N. H. Turnpike in Andover- -distance 35 miles. 

The Jefferson Turnpike Road — incorporated Dec. 11, 1804 — from 
Lancaster, Jefferson, Bretton- Woods, to the Tenth N. H. Turnpike- 
distance 14 miles— cost 3)18,400. 

The Croydon Turnpike Road — incorporated June 21, 1804 — from 
Lebanon, corner of Plainfield, Grantham, Croydon, Newport, Lempster, 
to Second N. H. Turnpike in Washington— distance 34 miles — expense 
$35,948. 

The Cheshire Turnpike JRoai— -incorporated Dec. 13, 1804 — from 
Charlestown, Langdon, part of Walpole. Alstead, Surry, to Third N. H. 
Turnpike in Keene — distance 24 miles — cost $19,610. 

The Ashuelot Turnpike Road — incorporated June 18, 1807 — from 
the Sixth N. H. Turnpike in Winchester, Richmond, Fitzwilliam- Village 
— distance 15 miles. 

Rindge Turnpike Road — incorporated June 12, 1807 — from Branch 
Turnpike in Fitzwilliam, through Rindge, to line of Massachusetts, at 
corner of New-Ipswich — distance 4 miles. 

The Cornish Turnj)ike Road — incorporate^ Dec. 9, 1808 — from Cor- 
nish Bridge to Croydon Turnpike in Newport — distance 11 miles. 

Hampton Causeway Turnpike Corporation — incorporated Dec. 23, 
1803, in Hampton— distance 1 3-4 miles— cost $14,173 66. 

The Fitzwilliam Tillage Turnpike Road- incorporated Dec. 9, 1809 
— from village in Fitzwilliam to line of MassachuseUs— distance 4 1-2 
miles. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 17 



Loyidonden-y Branch Turnpike i2oo(i— from Hooksett, Bow, to Hop- 
kinton — distance 11 miles. 

Tbe Sanbornion Turnpike Road—from Ssinhornton toTliew-Hampton 
— distSQC-', 10 miles. 

There have been fifty-nine bridge companies incorporated within 
this state, some of which have been broken up, and their bridges remov- 
ed. The following are the principal bridges in the state : 

BrcMehorough Bridge, built in 1804, over Connecticut river, between 
Hinsdale a/id Braltleborough, Vt.— expense ^16,000, with 16 miles road 
bj same corporation. 

Westmoreland Bridge, over Connecticut river, from Westmoreland 
to Putney, Vt.— 430 feel length, 24 feet width— cost $9,160. 

Walpole Village Bridge, over Connecticut river, from Walpole to 
Westminster, Vt.~540 feet length, 28 feet width— cost $5,852. 

Beilows-Falh Bridge, built in 1797, over Connecticut river, from 
Walpole to Rockingham, Vt., 180 feet length, 27 feet width. 

Cheshire Bridge, over Connecticut river, from Charlestown to Spring- 
field, Vt. 

Cornish Bridge, over Connecticut river, from Cornish to Windsor, 
Vt. 

White-River Bridge, over Connecticut river, frona Lebanon to Hart- 
land, Vt. 

Hanover Bridge, over Connecticut river, from Hanover to Norwich, 
Vt. 

Orford Bridge, built in 1802, over Connecticut river, from Orford to 
Fairlee, Vt.— cost $6,500. 

Bedell's Bridge, built in 1804, over Connecticut river, from Haverhill 
to Newbury. Vt,— cost $3,800. 

Haverhill Bridge, ever Connecticut river, from Haverhill to Newbu- 
ry, Vt. 

Lancaster Bridge, over Connecticut river, from Lancaster to Guild- 
hall, Vt. 

JYerthumberland Bridge, over Connecticut river, from Northumber- 
land to Maidstone, Vt. 

Hooksett Bridge, over Merrimack river, in Hooksett. 

Concord Bridge, over the Merrimack river, in Concord. 

Federal Bridge, over the same river, in Concord. 

Boscawen Bridge, over the Merrimack river, between Boscawea and 
Concord. 

Canterbury Bridge, over Merrimack river, from Boscawen to Can- 
teroury. 

Republican Bridge, over Pemigewasset river, from Salisbuiy to San- 
bornton. * 



18 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 

JSTeiv- Chester Union Bridge, over Peinigewasset river, from Nevp- 
Chester to Sanbornlon. 

Pemigewasset Bridge, over Pemigewasset river, from Bristol to New- 
Hampton. 

Stratham Sf Kew-Market Bridge, over Exeter river, from Stpatham 
to New-Market. 

Pascataqua Bridge, built 1793, over Pascataqua river, from Newiug- 
ton to Durham— 2600 feet in length, 40 feet wide—cosi «$65,401. 

JVeiv-Castle Bridge, from Portsmouth to New-Castle, built in 1821 — 
2370 fret long, 20 feet wide— cost $7000. 

P&rtsmouth Bridge, over the Pascataqua, from Portsmouth to Ham's 
island, 500 feet, and from thence over the main channel to Kittery, 
Me. 1650 feet, width 40 feel— cost 1S)40,000. 

Geology akd Miiveralogy. — The tract of country embraced 
within the bounds of the state of New-Hampshire, is rough, broken and 
uneven, aisd is decidedly of jorimifire formation. The: high ridge of 
mountains which divides the branches of the Merrimack and Connecti- 
cut from each other, has a N. E. and S. W. direction ; it is composed of 
the older primitive rocks. Granite predomiaates at the northern and 
more elevated part of the ridge, while mica slate appears more abund- 
antly at the southern portion*, where it forms the Grand Monadnock and 
several other very elevated eminences. Mica slate is the predominant 
rock in thiis chain ; but throughout its whole extent granite appears in 
various places, and frequently, as at Hillsborough, Andover, Wilmot, &;c. 
It has a coarse porphyritic structure ; the imbedded grains of feldspar are 
large, but very seldom in twin crystals. Porphyritic granite occurs also 
in boulders and in rolled masses in many places eastward of this ridge. 
A beautiful fine grained granite occurs in many parts of the fctate, both 
in situ and in boulders and rolled masses ; particularly at Concord, Bos- 
cawen, Hopkinton, &o. This also probably const itutes the bald rugged 
peak in the vicinity of Hooksett falls. This granite affords an admirable 
building stone ; large quantities are used in the vicinity of the rocks 
and are transported to Boston for various arclntecfuraJ purposes. The 
Capitol and State-Prison at Concord are built of this rock.-'-l£ derives it? 
superiority over the granite of many other countries from the circum- 
stance that it contains no sulphuret of iron, which, by the action of at- 
mospheric agents, produces an iron-rust stain, which destroys the beauty 
of the material. 

Eastward of this great ridge, mica slatfe, gneiss and greenstone ar« 
found -, but with the more particular geological features we are unac- 
quainted. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 19 



A remarkable alluvial formation, which may with propriety be called 
the Merrimack Alluvion, is worthy of notice : through this formation 
the river Merrimack passes, and by it, is embraced all those sandy plains 
which artf covered with pine and black timber, in the neighborhood of 
the river. The towns of Boscawen, Concord, Pembroke, Bow, Bedford, 
Amherst, Merrimack, Hollis, Dunstable, &c. in this state, ai-e formed in 
part or entirely of this alluvion ; and it also extends through Tyngsbo- 
rough, Chelmsford, to West-Cambridge, Cambridge, Boston and Wal- 
tham in Massachusetts, on the one hand; and on the other side it fol- 
lows the course of the river, embracing large tracts of land on each side, 
quite to the ocean. Its extent from Concord towards Maine is not 
known, but probably the town of Wells is also included in this formation. 
Piocks in some places break through this alluvial deposite, but they form 
no very elevated hills. In passing frora Concord eastward to Ports- 
mouth, we find the following succession of recks : — Granite four miles 
from Concord; gneiss, 11 miles; mica slate, 14 miles; granite, 15 
miles ; then gneiss, and lastly greenstone. The direction of the strata 
nearlyN. E. andS. W. 

Steatite, or seapslone, is found at Francestown And Orford, where it is 
quarried and wrought into covings, jams, &c. of fire places, and is also 
employed for other useful and crnamentd pui-poses. If occurs at both 
these places in beds. Mica slate is found both above and below it. 

Primitive limestone is found in beds in some parts of the ridge : it oc- 
curs at Orford, also at Hanover, where it is stratified with mica slate ; at 
Concord, (Grafton co.) and Meredith.—These q«anies furnish excellent 
lime for various purposes. 

It is a commonly received opinion, that mountainous districts are uni- 
formlvrich in minerals and metals ; but actual observation teaches us 
that this opinion is to be received with some limitation. Primitive 
mountains usually abound in metallic ores, and metalliferous minerals ; 
and the rocks which give the geological features to this state, viz. granite, 
gneiss, mica slate, &c. usually contain ores of gold, silver, copper, lead, 
tin, Iron, &c. Copper and iron are the only metals hitherto tound in 
sufficient quantitiPS to justify the erection of works for smelting ; yet from 
the fact, that the primitive rocks are more metalliferous than others, w^e 
should be induced, at every opportunity, to examine our grounds and 
farms for other .metals : not, however, in a secret, mysterious manner, 
with chimerical notions sbout the existence of precious ores, but with 
good and honest heart?, willing not only to benefit ourselves, but our 



20 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 

state and country. But to returu from this degression. Metallic veins 
in primitive rocks do not sometimes excel a few hundred fathoms in 
length, and are usually very narrow ; and from the facts already known 
respecting the New-Hampshire hills and mountains, we are not author- 
ized to affirm that they afford a rich treat for the mineralogist or geolo- 
gist : they may, perhaps, hereafter afford a productive source of reve- 
nue and profit to the state. 

Specimens of pyritous copper, found at Francpnla, have been recentr 
Jy examined; which cannot he distingui-^hed from the celebrated 
ore wrought at Anglesea. It is said to exist in large quantities, and 
promises to becon>e a source of profit to the state. It is from this kind 
of ore *hat almost all the copper used in commerce and the arts is pro- 
cured. 

A vein oC sulphurct of had, or galena, has b«en explored in Lebanon, 
lut tioCs not afford suthcicnl quantities to defray the expense of smelting 
at the present price of labor and lead. Galena is also found at Orford, 
of fine texture. See Orford. 

A small mass, containing a large proportion o(nalia)e silver, has been 
found near Portsmouth ; and small quantities of /lorn. silver occur in the 
same mass. Diligent investigation has not yet discovered any more of 
this valuable metal. 

A rich iron ore is found at Franconia. — It is a magnetic ore, called by 
mineralogists magnetic oxide of iron. It yields from 60 to 75 per cent. 
At Franconia it is wrought, and atfords the mottled or grey cast iron : it 
would probably make excellent cannon. Some other ores of iron are 
also found in this state. The iron pyrites are found in many places. — 
Their fine golden yellow color has frequently led persons to suppose 
that they were gold. Such persons may be convinced that they are not 
gold, by reducing them te powder, and throwing it on a red hot iron : a 
strong smell of brimstone is immediately perceived, and its peculiar blue 
flame may often be noticed. The brotcn hematite iron ore is found in 
Chesterfield. — From this ore, a very good kind of steel may be manu- 
fectured at a small expense. Ochrey oxide of iron is found in Jaffrey on 
the Monadnock. Cwrbonate of iron in small quantity has been found in 
Hanover. At Lebanon, a vein of iron ore has been found, which ap- 
pears to be composed of the magnetic oxide, mixed with the pyrites. 

The substance called Plumbago^ or black lead, is found in several pla- 
ces in New-Hampshire. The most abundant locality is Bristol. It ap- 
pears to be of that valuable kind which is employed for making pencils. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 21 

•••f • - . " ' - ■' .- .. ■ — 

and might be used in the manufacture of crucibles and melting pots. It 
is equal to the celebrated BuiTowdale ore, and has been recently discov- 
ered. At Sutton it is also found, and of a quality adapted to the manu- 
facture of crucibles and anti-attrition paste. 

In addition to the above, it may be useful to noention the following lo- 
calities. 

Granular Limestone — Orford, Hanover ; it is used for the various 
purposes for which lime is employed. It is stratified with mica slate. 

Fetid imesfone— Orford; of a greyish white, distinctly crystallized. 
{Silliman.) 

Sienite — Hanover, in small quantity ; also at Charlc&town. (Hall.) 

Stauroiide, fine specimens, crystallized in primitive form — Franconia ; 
near Bellows-Falls, in argiilite. {Hall.) In mica slate, large crystalis, at 
Chesterfield. {Allen.) 

Quartz, very abundant, both crystallized and amorphous. At Amherst 
is a large quantity of uhiie opaque quartz, which may be found very use- 
ful in porcelain pottery. A manufactory of this kind was not many years 
since commenced near Boston, and relinquished for want of this mater- 
ial. The Amherst quartz is within eight or ten miles of the Merrimack, 
and might have been easily carried in boats almost into the kilns of the 
manufactory. 

Milky quartz — Andovcr, near the mountain, amorphous, and easily 
broken. 

Rose quartz- -Mount Washington. 

Ferruginous gwarf^-Gilmanton, red and yellow, in beautiful crystals 
—also at Francestown. 

/Zbrn^^one— Burton and Gilraanton. 

Jlfica— Grafton and Walpole, very fine; Gilmanton, good specimens ; 
aad at Alstead, in very large plates. 

/Sc/iorZ— Gilmanton, radiating on quartz, and darting through it in all 
directions ; Lime, very beautiful, imbedded in white semi-transparent 
quartz ; also at Chichefcler. Indicclite, at Hinsdale, large crystals, ia 
feldspar and quartz. {Allen.) 

Feldspar, abundant — Burton, Gilmanton, Taraworth, &c. Some spe- 
cimens approach nearly to au'ularia. 

Berylf is found in small quantities at New-Ipswich; also on the White 
HiUs. 

Garnet, very abundant in this state — the finest specimens, approach- 
ing the precious garnet, at Hanover. Common garnet, Monadnock. — 
C3 



22 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Amoiphous and in imperfect crystals, very elegant, at Franconia iron 
mine. 

Epidote—FrfiDConiSi, in the iron mine, ia light yellow acicular crys- 
tals \ at Portsmouth, in a porphyritic hornblende ; at Exeter, in beauti- 
ful groups of radiating crystals ; at GiJmanton ; at Bedford. ( Woodbury.) 

Tremoliie — Gilmanton ; Chester, near the Devil's den, bladed and a- 
bundaot. 

Hornblende— Uanover, Exet&r ; superb specimens are found at Fran- 
conia ; at Bedford. {Woodbury.) 

Steaiite—Ov^ovd, Francestown. 

Manganese, tuberous and manimillary, investing granite — Northwoo J. 

Magnetic iron, docleceedral crystals — Amherst. 

Fluate of Lime—neav the gap of the White Mountains, {Gihbs.) At 
Westmoreland, light green. (Hall.) 

AsbesiuS'^ Franconia. 

Amethyst— \yh\ie Hills, a feve rods S. E. from the Notch, in crystals; 
Hampton-Falls, in rolled pieces. (Cleaveland.) 

Jasper— Gilmanton, and White Hills, near the Notch, of a reddish 
color. (Gibbs.) 

Basanife— -North-Hampton, in scattered fragments. (Cleaveland.) 

JtfacZe— Bellows-Falls, Croydon, Charlestown, in argillite. (Hall.) 

Yellow Oc/ire— -Mew-Boston, Jaffrey, Rindge, Mason, Salisbury, Gil- 
manten. 

Alum — Bath. Emery — Lyman and Lancaster. 

Sulphate of iron, or Copperas — Gilmanton, Brentwood, Hopkinlon, 
PJymoutU and Rindge. 

Cyanite — Charlestown, abundant, of a dark blue color, imbedded in 
quartz. (Hall.) 

Finite — Near Bellows-Falls, in light grey cylindrical crystals, of 1-6 
to 1-4 inch diameter, and sometimes 2 inches long. (Hall.) 

Kaolin, or porcelain-clay — New-Ipswich. 

Zoisite — Westmoreland. 

Mineral Springs. — Of springs thus denominated, we have a nnmber, 
though of no very great celebrity. The most noted are those at Amherst, . 
Milford, Jaffrey, Unity, Hanover, Concord,(Graftouco.) Lebanon. Little- 
ton, Meredith, Moultonborough and Wolfborough. Each of these has 
its visitors ^ and the waters of all have proved highly beneficial in some 
complaints. The mineral spring at Milford is not impregnated with any 
foreign substances tc so great a degree as to render it a hard water j but 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 23 



like rain water aad river water, washes well, and is a pure good water. 
The spring at Amherst contains a minute portion of hepatic air, or sul- 
phuretted hydrogene. The spring at Lebanon contains a minute portion 
of sulphuretted hydrogene and of iron. The spring at Concord contains 
the same ingredients, together with a minute portion of muriate of soda, 
Jaffrey spring contains a small portion of carbonate of iron. None of 
these springs, however, are, strictly speaking, entitled to the name of 
mineral springs— their waters may be used in domestic economy. 

Government and Laws. — New-Hampshire has a written consti- 
tution, which was established by a convention of the people in 1792. It 
is founded upon the broad principles of rational liberty, and guarantees 
at once the safety of the stats and the personal rights of the citizen. — 
No person can be restrained in his freedom, until by crime he cuts off 
the obligation of society to protect him ; unless it be a matter of his own 
choice or sufterance. The supreme executive power of this state is ves- 
ted in the Governor and Council. The Governor is annually elected by 
the people : or, if there be no choice by the people, the Legislature 
chooses from the two highest candidates. The Council consists of five 
persons, chosen by the people. The Senate consists of twelve members, 
who are chosen by the people, in districts. Every town containing 150 
rateable polls sends one representative, and lor every additional 300 polls, 
is entitled to another. The annual election is holdcn on the second 
Tuesday of March. The following extracts from the constitution, will 
sufficiently explain the nature and powers o( our government : 

Of the Governor and Council. — Every bill or resolve of the General 
Court, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the Governor ; if he 
approve, he shall sign it ; if not, return it, Avith his objections, to that 
house whex'e it originated, who shall reconsidftr it, &c. 

All judicial officers, the Attorney G«nerai, Solicitors, all Sheriffs, Coro- 
ners,Kegisters of Probate, and r.il officers of the Navy and Militia, shall 
be nominated and appointed by the Governor and Council. 

The power of pardoning offences, except such as persons may be con- 
victed of before the Senate, by impeachment of the House, shall be in 
the Governor, by and with the consent of the Council. 

No officer duly commissioned to command in the militia shall be re- 
moved from office but by the address of both houses to the Governor, or 
trial by court martial. 

No moneys shaii be issued out of the Treasury of this State and dis- 
posed of ( except such sums as may be appropriated for the redemption 
of bills of credit, treasurer's notes, or payment of interest arising there- 
on) but by warrant under the hand of the Governor by and with the ad- 
vice and consent of the Council. 



24 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Of the Senate. — The Senate shall consist of twelve members, who 
shall hold their office for one year from the first Wednesday of Jane 
next ensuing their election. 

The Senate shall be final judges of the elections, returns and qual- 
ifications of their own members, as pointed out in the Constitution, 

The Senate shall have power to adjourn themselves, provided such ad- 
journment do not exceed two days at a time. 

The Senate shall be a court, with full power and authority to hear, and 
determine, all impeachments made by the House of Repiesentatives 
against any officer of the State, for bribery, corruption, mal-practice or 
mal-administration in office, with full power to issue summons, on com- 
pulsory process for convening witnesses before them: but previous to 
the trial of any such impeachment, the members of the Senate shall be 
swsrn truly and imj)artiaily to try and determine the charge in question, 
according to evidence. 

Of the House of Representatives. — The House of Representatives 
shall be the grand inquest of the State, and all impeachments made by 
them, shall be heard and tried by the Seriate. 

Ail money bills shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the 
Senaft! may propose to concui with amendments, as on other billfi 

The House of Representatives shall have power to adjourn themselves, 
but no longer than two days si a time. 

No member of the Legislature shall be arrested or held to bail on 
mesne process, during his going to, returoing from, or attending upon 
the Court. 

The laws of this state, and the proceedings of the legislature, are by 
the constitution required t© be published, and are annually distributed 
to the several towns for the information of the people. 

The federal constitution was ratified by this state on the 2l3t of June, 
1788, by a majority of eleven in the convention. 

Funds, Revenue, Taxes and ExPENSES.—The productive and 
unproductive fuiids of the state, invested in U. S. funded stock, bank 
stock and other securities, amount to $151,360 86. From these sources 
an annual revenue is realized to the state, amounting to <^8,110 07. 

Funds of the State. 
Seven per cent, slock of the Uailed States, . . . 17,605 00 
Deferred six per cent, stock of do. . . . . 8,689 61 

Three pei cent, stock of do 95,134 45 

Fifty shares of stock in N. R. Bank, at present unproductive, 25,000 00 
Bond executed by Treasurer of Dartmouth University, unpro- 
ductive, 4,000 00 

Notes for consideration money of lands sold by Treasurer, 931 80 

$151,360 86 
Revenue. 
The annual revenue of the state may be estimated at $8,110 07, de- 
rived from the following sources : 



NEW-HAMPSHTRE GAZETTEER. 25 



Interest on seven per cent, stock of the United States, . 1,232 35 
Reimbursement of principal and interest on deferred six per 

cent, stock cf the U. S 3,967 79 

Interest on three per cent, stock of the U. S. . . 2,854 03 

Interest on notes for consideration monev of lands sold, 55 90 



$8,110 07 
Moneys received into the Treasury during the political year ending 

June 4, 1822. 
For taxes outstanding prior to the year 1821, $2,696 43 ; state tax of 
1821, 30,000; for rents of rooms of medical building at Hanover, 18 92j 
principal and interest of notes given tor lands sold, 1,145 16; for reim- 
bursement of principal and interest on stock in U. S, funds, 8,054 17 ; 
for loans from banks, 17,000; for fines of militia exempts, 16 00; — mak- 
ing in all $58,930 68, Or, exclusive of loans to defray the expenses of 
the government, $41,930 68. 

During the year above mentioned, there were paid out of the Treasury, 
for money borro'.^ed, and to meet the current and ordinary demands on 
the government, sums amounting in the w^hole to $51,891 03 : — exhibit- 
ing the following state of the Treasury on the 4th day of June, 1822. 
Balance remaining in th« Treasury, June 4, 1821, . ^'''SS 44 

Amount received into the Treasury during the ) ear ending 

June 4, 1822, , 58,930 68 



63,696 12 
Deduct disbursements during the year, . . . 61,891 03 

Balance in the Treasury, .... $11,80509 

Estimate of the expenses of government for the political year ending 
June 4, 1823. 
Salaries of the officers of governmeat, viz. governor, 1200; secretary, 
300 ; treasurer, 600 ; altorney-general, 800 ; adjutant-general, 400; 
warden state pris5n, 800 ; justices superior court, 3800 ; for compensa- 
tion to members and otlicer*i of the legislature, including incidental ex- 
penses of the session, 16,145 75 : allowance to ceurt? martial, brigade 
inspectors and for military commisjions, 1100; for adjutant general's de- 
partment, 2234 ; compensation to commissary general, 190 t,8 ; sheriffs' 
accounts, 50 00; for printing, stationary and postage, 1250; encour- 
agement of agriculture, 250 ; for educating deaf and dumb children, 
1000 ; bounties on wild cats, 190 ; expenses of eaquiry into the official 
conduct of Hon. Edward Evans, 263 72 ; contingencies, say 600. To 
which if the principal and interest of debts due banks be added, amount- 
ing — if payment can be made from the proceeds of the state tax as soon 
as the first of Feb. 1823 — to 11,450; and also certain unexpended bal- 
ances of appropriations for agricultural purposes, and for education of 
deaf and dumb children, amounting to $385, — ^there will be presented an 
aggregate amount of $43,009 45, for the expen'ses and disbursements of 
government, for the political year ending June 4, 1823, 



26 NEVV-H-AMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 

lAterai-y Fund. — This fund, which was establishftd by an act of the 
legislature, passed June 29, 1821, for the purpose of endowing "a col- 
lege for instruction in the higher branches of science and literature," 
consists of the proceeds of a tax of one half of one per cent, on the a- 
mount of the capital stock of the several banking corporations in this 
state. The aggregate amount of the tax for the last year was ^4,770 37. 
This sum has been converted into United States' six per cent, stock of 
1815. 

Militia. — In New-Hampshire, the militia is composed of every able* 
bodied white male citizen, belvveen the ages of 18 and 45, except those 
exempted by law, among whom to the honor of the state, are those 
whose religious scruples render them averse to wai'. The militia of ibis 
state is divided by law into three divisions, sis brigades and thirty-nine 
regiments. Each division is commanded by a major-general who is al- 
lowed one division-inspector with the rank of colonel, and two aids with 
the rank of major. Each brigade has one brigadier-general, who is al- 
lowed one brigade inspector and one brigade quartermaster with the 
rank of major, and one aid with the jank of captain. To each brigade, 
the-re is a judge advocate. Each regknent is commanded by one colo- 
nel, one lieutenant-colonel and one major. The regimental staff con- 
sists of aa adjutant, quartermaster, paymaster, sijrgeon, surgeon's mate 
and chaplain, who are commissioned by the governor, one quarter-master- 
sergeant, one sergeant major, one drum major and one fife major,who are 
appointed by the colonel or commandant of the regiment. Companies 
of infantry consist of one captain, one lieutenant and one ensign, four 
sergeant*, four corporals, one drumraer, one fifer and sixty four rank and 
file. Companies of light infantry or grenadiers, of which two are al' 
lowed to each regiment, consist of forty eight rank and file. Compa- 
nies of artillery consist of one captain, two lieutenants, four sergeants, 
four corporal?, six gunners, six bombardiers, two drivers, one drummer, 
one fifer and sixteen matrosses. The cavalry consists of one captain, two 
lieutenanls, one cornet, four sergeants, four corporals, two musicians, 
one farrier, one saddler, and fifty privates. 

Thfc last annual return of the adjutant general furnishes the follo^ring 
abstract of ihe numbers of the militia, and of the arms and accoutre* 
ments. General officers and Staff. — Three major generals, 3 division 
inspectors, 6 aids-de-camp ; 6 brigadier-generals. 4 brigade inspectors, 
6 brigade quartermasters, 6 aids-de-camp and 4 judge advocates. Field 
and Slaff.-~25 colonels, 35 lieutenant-colonels, 36 majors, 37 adjutants, 



NKW-HAMPSIIIRE GAZETTEER. 



38 quartermasters, 37 paymaster?, 38 surgeons, 32 surgeons' mates, 32 
chaplains, 37 sergeant majors, 35 quartermaster sergeants, 37 drnm^ma- 
jors* and 38 life-majors. Cavalry. — 41 companies, 40 captains, 74 lien- 
tenants, 38 cornets, 144 sergeants, 84 corporals, 81 musicians, 1450 pri- 
vates. Artillery. — 38 companies, 35 captains, 74 lieutenants, 141 ser- 
geants, 91 corporals, 99 musicians, 979 privates. Infantry, light infant- 
ry and granadiers. — 376 companies, 359 captains, 340 lieutenants, 336 
ensigns. 1-270 sergeants, 518 corporals, 1043 musicians. 21,124 privates. 
Riflemen.—^ companies, 8 captains, 8 lieutenants, 8 ensigns, 30 ser^ 
geants, 18 corporals, 31 musicians, 287 privates. 
Arms and Actoutrements. 

Cavalry. — 1449 swords, 1446 sword sccbbards and belts, 2905 pistols, 
IGSShulsters, 1499 saddles and bridles, 1486 mail pillions, 1375 valises, 
1491 cartridge boxes and bells, 1468 pairs of boots, 1468 pairs of spurs, 
35 trumpets and bugles, 22 colors. Artillery. -W^l ^.woxd^, 28 pieces 
of brass ordnance, 1 piece of iron do, 53 drums and fires,.22 colours, &c. 
&c. Infantry, Sfc. — J 6,369 muskets, 15,967 bayonets, 16,104 iron ram- 
rods, 16,019 cartridge boxes and bells, 31.157 spare flints, 15,883 
priming wires and brushes, 15,323 knapsacks, 15,414 canteens, 345 
drums, 287 fifes. Riflemen. — 83 rifles, 51 powder horns, 83 pouches, 63 
knapsacks, 40 canteens, 6 drums, 4 fifes. Books, Colors, Sfc. — 35 
regimental colors, 1123 infantry regulations, 418 militia laws, 127 roll 
books, 308 orderly books. 

PoFULATioK. — The earliest enumeration which we find of the inhab- 
itants of this state, was a partial one, made in 1680, when the province 
contained only the towns of Portsmouth, Dover, Exeter and Hampton. 
There were then " between two and three hundred voters." Though no 
accurate survey was made until 1767, it has been estimated that the pop- 
ulation amounted to 30,000 in the year 1749. 

Table I. Shoioing the progressive population since 1749. 



1749. 



1767. 



1775. 



30,000 I 52,880 | 82,200 



I 1790. 
I 141,885 



1800. I 1810. I 182 0. 
183,858 I 214,460 I 244,161 



Table II. Exhibiting the average increase in different periods. 





$fo. Trs. 


Dr.ily inc. 


Tearly tm. 


Total increa. 


Remarks. 
The »nnii.al 


From 1749 to 1767. 


18 


3.4 


1271 


22,880 


" 1767 to 1775, 


8 


10.0 


3652 


29,320 


incr. tor the 
last 71 jrs. is 
3016 :-daily 


" 1775 to 1790, 


15 


10.9 


3979 


59,685 


" 1790 to 1800, 


10 


11.4 


4197 


41.973 


inor, f-uring 


" 1800 to 1810, 


10 


8.4 


3060 


30,602 


the same pe- 


" 1810 to 1820, 


10 


8.1 


2970 


29,701 


riod, about 8. 



NEW -HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



The rapid increase of population between the years 1767 and 1800, 
was owing ia part to adventitious causes. After tLe peace of 1763, em- 
igrations became frequent from the neighboring states into the new town- 
ships ot New-Hampshire, and many also removed from the older settle- 
ments (o the new, under encouragements from government or the pro- 
prietors of the lands. In 1790, the population of the Union was princi* 
pally confined to the Atlantic states^ those west of the Alleghany moun- 
tains containing scarcely 100,000 inhabitants. Since that period the 
tide of emigration has set strongly to the west; great states have arisen 
bejoudthe mounuins, a great proportion of whose inhabitants were 
from New-England. New-Hampshire has furnished her full share of 
adventurers ; and the increase of her mhabitants has been proportion- 
ably less, within the last thirty years. 

From the returns of the census for the year 1820, it appears that 
there were in this stite. 

Under iO yea: s. From 10 to 16. 16 to 26. 26 to 45 AS & vfnv''dt. 

Males, 35.466 19,672 22,703 22,956 18.413 

Females, 34,599 18,899 24,806 25,797 19,925 

The txcess o{ female in our population is 4,816. There are 786 free 
persons of color in this state; but the footstep of a slave does not pol- 
lute our soil. ; 
Table HI. Shewing the proportion of Sexes at different periods; and 
of black end white population in 1820. 

[N. B. Ih thistable is included the whole of New-Eugland, taat the reader may at 
a glance see the proportion of the different states] 



STATES. 


jXo. of females fo 100 males. 


j Proportion— 182&.\ 


1790. 1 1800. 1 1810. 1 1820. 


Blacks. 


Whitet. 


New-Hampshiie 

Maine 


93.90ll00.52 

95.391 96.27 

104.07 102.92 

102.19 101.92 

102.66 105 46 


101.44 
97.15 
102.53 
101.92 
104 ft3 


104.051 

99.36 

104.83 

104.26 


0.32 
0.31 
1.28 
2.89 
434 


99.68 
99.69 
98.72 
9711 
95.66 
99.61 


Mpssachuselts. ...... 




Rhode-I'land 


Vermout 


90 48' 94 0'' 97 48'100 50" 0..'^9 














The population of this state is 26 to a square mile. That of Massa- 
chusetlsis 74; of Maine, 9 ; Connecticut, 55 ; F>.hode-Is<Rnd, 53 ; and 
Vermeni, 22. Neiv-Hampshire wa? in 1790, in point of population, the 
tenth state in the Union ; at the second census, in 1800, the llth ; at the 
third, in 1810, the 14th ; and at the lest census, the 15th. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 29 



MArsruFACTURES AND CoMMERCE.-New-Hampshire is emphatically 
an agricultural state. Manufactures and commerce engross the attention 
of a comparatively small portion of its citizens. Young- as we are in tha 
arts, it has not yet become our interest to abandon the cultivation of the 
soil, for the purpose of creating extensive manufacloiles, — in whieh 
must be required large capitals, and a patience and automaton consta!:cy 
to which we are unused, — while the rewards are uncertain and feeble. 
In the departments of domestic or household manufactures, our citizens 
already excel, and it is pleasing to observe an increasing emulation. To 
be independent, we must manufacturo for ourselves. The esrth is boun- 
tiful ; and by suitable attention we may gather from its bosom what will 
not only feed our mouths, but clothe our bodie?. We shall perhaps be 
unable to give a very accurate view of the manufactures of this state ; 
but the following facts will enable the reader to judge of their variety 
and < extent. We manufacturo comparatively litth for exportation: 
most of our products are rsquired at home. In 1810, we had. twelve 
maaufacturing establishments, with 5,956 spindles?.— Those at Dover, 
PeterboroHgh and Pembroke were the principal. The quanlitj^ of cloth 
annually manufactured at those establishments, is not accurately stated ; 
but the number of yards of various kinds of cloth manufactured in the 
Tvhole state, in families, factories, &c. in 1810, according to the returns, 
was as follows ; 

Yards. 
Cottoa goods, - - - 518,985 

Mixed, cotton, &c. - - - 930,973 

Flaxen, .... 1,099,320 

Blended unnamed stuffs, - . - 112,540 

Woollen, .... 909,273 

Tow, .... 723,089 



4,274,185 
There were, at this time, for cotton, wool, &c. in the state, 20,670 
looms; 109 carding machines, which carded 478,000 lbs. per annura ; 
135 fulIiHg mills, which fulled 497,500 yards of clo'ih. Of the ar- 
ticle /m^^, we manufactured in that year 36,700 of wool, and 17,160 of 
fur, in value ^106,500. In 1310, there were 236 tanneries, in which wer» 
tanued of hides, skins, &c. 853,890— worth $250,000. In 19 oil-miils, 
were made 20,560 gallons linseed oil. Distilleries, 18: gallons distilled 
from grain, fruit, &c. 135,950. At the iron furnaces in this state, five in 
number, were made 1 120 tons bar iron. — worth |;i&0,000. Of nails, ia 
14 factories, were made 203,840 lbs. Trip-hammers, 42. Paper mi!l«, 
D 



so NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 

6— amount of paper manufactured not known. The total value of our 
manufactures in 1810, excluding doubtful items, was $5,225,045. 

The manufactures of this state have gradually increased since 1810. 
During the war with Great-Britain, which shut out for a season the llood 
of foreign goods which had lon^ poured in upon the country, they were 
indeed liiore flourishing than at any former pel-iod in our history ; but 
this prosperity was temporary, and subsided when the cause was remov- 
ed. A gradual increase of manufactures will and ought to continue, as 
the wants of the people are augmented, and their solicitude for these es- 
tablishments increases. There are at the present time in this staie, 28 
cotton, and 18 woollen factories ; 307 carding machines ; 256 fulling 
mills ; 22 distilleries ; 20 oil mills ; 193 bark mills ; 304 tanneries ; 54 
trip-hammer?, and 12 paper mills. In Mason there is a starch manu- 
factory—and in several towns have been erected circular saw clapboard 
machines, which from their great perfection promise extensive useful- 
neifs. ' 

The staple commodities of this state, are lumber, provisions, horses, 
neat cattle, pot and pearl ashes, flax-see:!, &c. These &te exported in 
great quantities annually. But in estimating the commerce of this state, 
it should be recollected, that New Hampshire lies in the bosom of Mas- 
sachusetts and Maine, with only one port and a narrow strip of sea- 
coast. The exports from the north part of the state are necessarily to 
the markets in Maine, while a great portion of those from the middle 
and southern parts, is carried to Newburyport, Boston or Hartford. — 
The most valuable intercourse of the state is thus cut off by nature from 
her only port : and it is therefore impossible to ascertain the amount an- 
nually exported from the state. The following statement will aflford a 
view of the commerce of Portsmouth. 

The average value of imports from foreign countries io the 
ive years ending Junu 30, 1822. is . ... $455,687 

The average value of exports to foreign countries 
for the same period in articles of the growth or man- 
ufacture of the United States, is . . . 235.059 

Foreign articles, 110,748 

^ $343,807 

The tonnage of vessels registered for foreign trade 

on the 30th June, 1817. was . . . 26,042 /oms. 

Enrolled and liceased for the coasting and fishing 

trade, including only those above 20 tons, 5,233 

Total amount tonnage, June 30, 1817, 31,275 

JuneSO. 1818— Registeredtonnage . . . -16,974 

Enrolled do. ... 5,516 

^ 22.490 



I 



NEW.HAMP3H1RE GAZETTEER. 



June 30, 1819— Registered, .... 17,162 

Enrolled, 5,911 

23,07^ 

June 30, 1820— Registered, . . . . 16,586 

Enrolled, 5,959 

22,545 

June "30, 1321— Registered, .... 17,604 

Earolled, 5,778 

23,382 

June 30, 1822— Registered, .... 17,086 

Enrolled, 8,592 

23,673 

A h'-'-^e number of vessels which had been laid up during the late war, 
were either lost, sold out of the district, or broken up and their registers 
surrendered subsequent to the 30th June, 1817, which accounts for the 
great diflference between the tonnage of that and the following years. 
Since 1818, the tonnage has been kept up, by building new vessels to sup- ■ 
ply the place of those worn out or sold, which will amount on an aver- 
age to from 1500 to 2000 tons. From sixty to seventy licensed vessels, 
of from 20 to 75 tons each, and about 550 men, exclusive of those in 
boats and smaller vessels, are employed daring the fishing sreeson, or from 
about the first of March to the latter part of November, in the bajik and 
mackerel fisheries. These vessels take from 38,000 to 45,000 quintals 
of cod and pollock fish, and on an average above 6,000 barrels of 
mackerel. The market is aleo abimdantiy supplied by boats and 
smaller vessels with fresh fish of vario'js kind?, of which no estimate can 
be made. More tbaa three-fifths of the registered tonnage of this pdrt 
is employed in the carrying trade — taking cargoes from southern porta 
to Europe, from whence they return in the latter part of summer and 
autumn, with salt, iron, coals, and other heavy and bulky articles, which 
are sold here as cheap as in any part of the United State*. The earn- 
in£;&or freight of these vessels make up the difterence betwe<»n the v.due 
of the exports and imports. Of the value of the coasting trade, no ac- 
curate account can be given. It is however on ths increase — is carried 
on in both registered and enrclled vessels, and forms a very valuable 
part of the commerce of this port. 

Literary Institutioivs.— Dartmouth College, in the township of 
Hano\er, is the only lileravy institution in this stale which exercises the 
functions of a college. It derives its name from the Rt. Hon. William 
Lcgge, LL. D. F. R.. S. iLarl of Dartmouth, one of its early and princi- 
pal benefactors. It was founded by Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, D. D. a 
pious and benevolent clergyman of Conneeticut. It originated /rom the 
establishmenx. of a school for the insiruciion of Jndiaa youth at Stock- 



32 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 

bridge, Mass. to which the name of ' Muor's School' was given, from 
Mr. Joshua Moor, of Mansfield, Conn, whose liberal donations justly en- 
titled it to receive his liame. After this school had been in operation a 
few years, it was found that the public benefits of the institution might 
be greatly increased by erecting it into a college and locating it in a more 
favorable situation. Accordingly, a royal charter was obtained by Dr. 
Wheebck, from John Wentworth, the previncial governor of N. Hamp- 
shire, oiiihe 13th of December, 1769, and the township of Hanover was 
selected for the site «f the new institution. In September, the next year, 
Dr. Whfelock with his family removed to this place, where there were 
only twenty families living in as many log huts. 1 heir first accommo- 
dations were but mean. TJiey built log houses, Avhich they occupied 
till better edifices could be prepared. In 1771,- the first commence- 
ment was holden, and degrees were conferred on Levi Frisbie, Samuel 
Gray, Sylvanus Ripley and John Wheelock. In 1779, on the 24tli of 
April, Pres. Wheelock died, and was su-cceeded by his second son, Co!. 
John Wheelock, at that time in the array of the United States. V/hcn 
peace between this country and England was restored, Pres. J. Whee- 
iock made s successful visit to England, as wpii as to other parts of Eu- 
jope, in the cause of the institution, and received several valuable dona- 
lions. In 1786, a new college building, 150 feet by 50, three stories high, 
was erected : in 1790, a colle.^s chapel: in 1791, the common? hall, and 
io 1810, the medical institution building. In 1815, an open rupture oc- 
curred between presideBt Wheelock and a Kajority of the trustees. — • 
Difficulties had existed for several years. President Wheelock appealed 
to the legislature, who appointed a committee to repair to Hanover, bear 
the parties, and make report at the next session. Soon after the exam- 
ination closed, the trustees removed Dr. Wheelock from the presidency, 
and appointed Rev. Francis Bi-own, of North-Yarmouth, in his room. 
At the next s»ession of the legislature, in 1813, an act was passed, entitled 
"An act to amend the charter and enlarge and Improve the corporation 
of DartiDouth College." Bj this act, the number of trustees was in- 
creased, a board of overseers was appointed, and the College was chang- 
ed to a University. The old trustees resisted this act, declaring it un- 
constitutional — and, although deprived of the college building, philoso- 
phical apparatus, &c. continued instruction, as usual, in private build- 
ings, and appealed to the judiciary. In 1817, the cause was decided in 
favor of the University, and the constitutionality of the laws, by the su- 
perior court of N^w-Hampshire. The cause was then carried before the 



NEW-HAMPSHfRE GAZETTEER. 33 



supreme court of the United States at Washington, who, om the 2d Feb* 
1819, reversed the whole proceedings, declaring the act of the state es- 
tablishing a university unconstitutional and void. la July, 1820, Pies. 
Brown died, and was succeeded, the same year, by Rev. Daniel Dana, 
D. D. uf Newburyport, Ms. who resigned the presidency in 1821. In 
1822, Rev. Bennet Tyler, of Southbury, Conn, succeeded the Rev. Dr. 
Dana in the office of President. 

The immediate instruction and government of the college is entrusted 
to the president, professors and tutors. From the first commencement, 
in 1771, to the present time, 1341 have proceeded bachelors of arts, of 
whom 332 have been settled in the ministry. The whole ^number on 
whom degrees have been conferred, is 1784. For admission into the 
Freshman class, it is required that the candidates be well versed in the 
grammar of the English, Latin and Greek languages, in Virgil, Cicero's 
Select Orations, Sallust, the Greek Testament, Dalzei's Collectanea Grae- 
ca Minora, Latin and Greek Prosody, Arithmetic, Ancient and Modern 
Geography, and that he be able accurately to translate English into Lat- 
in. The course of instruction and study for undergraduates in this sem- 
inary is as follows. 

For Freshmen. — Livy, 5 books — Horace's Odes — Cicero de Oratore, 
2 books — in Dalzei's Collect. Grteca Majora, J-Ierodotus, Xenophon's His- 
tory, Homer, Hesiod, (Elianus. Polyenus and Theophrasius — Adam's 
Roman Antiquities — Ty tier's Ancient History — Walker's Rhetorical 
Grammar — Review of Geograpiiy and Arithmetic — Algebra. 

Sophomores. — Horace finished —De Oi-atore finished— in Majora, Thu- 
cydides, Plato, Isocrates, ^Eschines, Demosthenes, Xenophon's Philoso- 
phy, Dionysius, Longinas, Aristotle — Excerpta Latitsa — Tytier's Modern 
History — Hedge's Elements of Logic — Blair's Rhetoric, 2 vols.— Eu- 
clid's Elements of Geometry— Trigonometry — Mensuration of Heights 
and Distances, Superficies and Solids — Surveying— Navigation— Guaging 
and Dialling. ' 

Juniors. — Tacitus, 5 books — Majora finished — Conic Sections — 
Chemistry — Enfield's Natural Philosophy and Astrononay — Paley's Nat« 
ural Theology- Paley's Moral and Political Philosophy. 

Seniors. — Loi^fee's Essay on the Human Understanding — Edwards on 
the Will — Stewart's Philosophy of the Human Mind, 2 vols. — Burlema- 
qui on Natural and Political Law — Paley's Evidences ol the Christian 
Religioa — Butler's Analogy of Religion to the Constitution and Course of 
Nature— the Federalist. 

The Medical Department in this institution is respectable and extreme- 
ly useful. It was established in 1793. For the lectures on Anatomy, the 
professor is furnished with valuable preparations, and in the CbenMcaf 
department there is a well furbished laboratory. TLe chemical and phi- 
Da 



34 NEVV-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



lesoi^hlcal apparatus is new, tvell chosen, and sufficiently extensive for 
all important purposes. The college library contains 5000 volumes : 
the libr<ir:es Oi Ihe ttvo societi2!j, composed of the students, contain 
6000 vclumer!. The lecture? on Anatomy and Surgery, Chemistry and 
Materia iMedica, and the Theory and Practice of Physic, commence 
early in the fall and continue three months. The productive funds of 
fehe college amount to 50,000 dollars: the annual income from the funds 
and tuition, to about ^6000, and the annual expenditures to something 
less than $6000. There are also funds to a considerable amount, not at 
present productive. The demands of the college, after making a liberal 
allowance for probable losses, fall short of the debts by about $2900. 

Moor's Charity School is connected with the college, having the same 
trustees and president. Its annual revenue is from 400 to 600 dollars. 

Jlcadtraies. — The academies which have been incorporated in this 
stale are as follow : viz, Phillip's Exeter Academy, incorporated April 
3, 1781. New-Ipswich Academy, June 18, 1789. Chesterfield Acad- 
emy, January 12, 1790. Charlestown Academy, February 16, 1791. 
Atkinson Academy, February 17, 1791. Aurean Academy at Am- 
herst, Feb. 17, 1791. Haverhill Academy, Feb. 11, 1794. Gilmanton 
Academy, June^O, 1794. Franklin Academy, at Dover, Dec. 28, 1805. 
Portsmouth Academy, Dec. 9. 1808. Salisbury Academical Association, 
Dec. 10,1808. Lancaster Academy, Dec. 10, 1808. Hampton Proprieta- 
ly School, June 16, 1810. Union Academy at Plainfield, June 16, 1813. 
Piakerton Academy at Londonderry, June 15, 1.^14. Durham Academy, 
June 25, 1817. New-Market Wesleyan Academy, June 23, 1818. Pem- 
broke Academy, June 25, 1818. Effingham Union Academy, June 18, 

1819. Francestown Academy, June 24, 1319. Alste.id Academy, July 1, 

1820. Gilford Academy, June 20, 1820. Newport Academy, June 24, 
1819. Saaboroton Academy, Dec. 22, 1820. New-Hampton Academy 
June 27,1821. Hillsborsugh .Academy. June 29, 1821. Several of these 
exist only in name. Those which are in successful operation will be 
hereafter noticed. 

Education. — Whatever of literary character the people of our 
country claim, arises from early education and the habits it creates. 
Though less splendid in name, it is more useful in practice than that of 
foreign nation?. The existence of schools, in which are grounded the 
/irst principles of learning, may be traced to an early period in our his- 
tory. The old laws of this state required every towm of ©ne hundred 
families to keep a grammar school ; by which was meant a school in 
AYhich the learned languages should be taught, and youth might ^be 



NEW-IIAMPSHTRE GAZETTEER. 35 



prepared for admission to a university. The same preceptor was 
obliged to teach reading, writing and arithmetic ; unless the towa were 
of sufficient ability to keep two or more schools, one of which was called 
a grammar sdiool by way of distinction. When there were but few 
towns, much better care was taken to observe the ancient law concern- 
ing school?, than after the settlements were multijJied. But there was 
never uniform attention paid to this important subje( t throughout the 
state, until the law of 1805, empowering towns to »!ivide into school dis- 
tricts ajid authorizing districts to build and repair school houses. Since 
that period, these p.imary sources of instruction, in the benefits of which 
the children of all classes of oui' citizens may equally participate, have 
acquired a higher character; but i^till in many towns, there is great room 
for improvement, especially in the selection of well qualified instructors, 
and in the use of suitable book? of elementary instruction. 

For the support of district schools, a certain pait, or the whole of the 
year, the selectmen of the ditierent places in this state are required to 
assess annually, the inhabitant?, according to their polls and rateable es- 
tate, together with the improved and unimproved lands and buildings of 
non-residents, in a sum to be computed at the rat**, of ninety dollars for 
every one dollar of their proportion for public taxes for the time being, 
and so for a greater or less sum. The amount of the assessments, when 
collected, are required to je appropriated to the sole purpose of keep- 
ing an English school, or school?, within the places for which the suras 
shall be assessed, for teaching the various sounds and powers of the let- 
ters in the English language, reading, writing, English grammar, arith- 
metic, geography, and such other branches of education as it may be 
necessary to teach in an English school. The purchase of necesssary 
wood or fuel for such schools is to be included. No person is deemed 
qualified to instruct any district school, without first procuring a certifi- 
cate from some able and respectable teacher, or learned minister of the 
gospel, preceptor of an academy, or president, professor, or tutor of a 
Col!ege,*hat such person is qualified to teach such school. The law also 
requires a certificate from the selectmen, or minister of the place where 
the pe.f-son resides, furnishing evidence that the person sustains a good 
moral character ; and this, with the other certificate, must be presented 
to the selectmen, or visi'.fng committee of the place Avhere the school i* 
to be kept, previous to the commencement of such school. Each town is 
required to appoint three or more suitable persons to visit and inspect 
the schools annually in their respective towns, at suitable times, and iu a 



36 NEW HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



manner most cond'jcive to tl^e progress of literature, morality' and reli- 
gion. In case ot failure to appoint such persons, ihe duty of inspecting 
schools devolves upon tlie selectmen. School books are by law exeiupt- 
ed from attachment. The number of school districts in this state amounts 
to 1698; and the number of school houses to 1560. The number of 
scholars instruc<ed in these districts cannot be less than 50,000. 

IManners and Customs. — The habits of the people of this state 
are similar to those of New-England generally. Descendants principal- 
ly of the same ancestor?, they inherit alike the same feelings and traits of 
character; and maj be distinguished from inhabitants of other sections 
of our vast country, by their hardihood in danger and patience iii suffer- 
ing, as well as by their sobi'iety and hospitality. It is, perhaps, fortunate 
for our country, that its settlers were from England, and that religious 
persecution laid the foundation of our empire and liberties. Had we 
been colonies of France or Spain, the lands would have been divided be- 
tween the "nobles and ecclesiastics ; and the very soil we tread upon, like 
the island of Montreal, might have been the property of a convent — and 
we the slaves of its inmates. The firmness of spii-it which braved the 
terrors of Indian Vi'arfarc, and afterwards, of the revolution — still exists 
and animates cur countrymen ; and among all classes, you will observe 
that their chiefest pride and boast ii their independence. Among the vir- 
tues of the people, industry and frugality are conspicuous. Though few 
are very vealthjs sA\ are comfortable, and a greater portion in easy cir- 
cumstances. The doors of the citizen are never closed against the de- 
cent looking traveller ; nor are the wretched often left to suffer. No 
man ever perished here for want of food or raiment. Public and private 
charities are every where bestowed : the number of charitable institu- 
tions, and the amount annually distributed by them, are by no means dis- 
propcrtioned to the wealth of the state. Whatever opinion the foreign- 
er may forne from the roughness of our exterior, which, like that of our 
country, is certainly apparent ; be will find hospitality to inhabit every 
dwelling, from the mansions of the rich, to the scattered cottages among 
our mountains.* 

Religion. — The Constitution declares that " every individual has a 
.natural and unalienable right to worship God according to the dictates 
oi his own conscience snd reason ; and no subject shall be hurt, raolest- 



* For tlie enaploymentsj diversions, &c. cf the people, see Belknap's N. H. vol. 
vii. 191. 



NEW-HARIPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 37 



ed, or restrained, in his person, liberty or estate for worshipping Gnd ia 
the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own con- 
science, or for his religions profession, sentiments or persuasion : provi- 
ded he doth not disturb the public peace, or disturb others in their re- 
ligious worship." In order to promote "the institution of the public 
worship of the Deity, and of public instruction in morality and reli- 
gion," the legislature is enipo-yered *' to authorize, from time to time, the 
several towns, parishes, bodies corporate or religious societies, withia 
this state, to make adequate provision, at their own expense, for the sun- 
port and maintenance of public Protestant teachers ot piety, religion 
and morality." All religious communities have the exclusive right of 
electing their public teachers, and of contracting with them for their sup- 
port and maintenance ; and no person of any particular religious sect or 
denomination, is compelled to contribute towards supporting teachers 
of a different sect or persuasion. ** And every denomination of christ- 
ians demeaning themselves quietly, and as good si^bjccts of tho state, 
shaiJ be equally under the protection of the law. And no subo? dination 
of any ona sect or denomination to another, shall ever be established by 
law." In Jnly, 1819, tbe memorable act called the Toloration Law pass- 
ed the Legislature. This acts provides that no person shall be compel- 
led to join or support, or be classed with, or associated to any congrega- 
tion, church or religious socisty, without his express consent first had 
and obtainad. And any person who shall choose to separate himself 
from any society or association formed under said act, to which he 
may belong, may, by leaving a written notice with the clerk of such soci- 
ety, be exempted from any future expenses which may be incurred by 
said society oi- association. 

The various religious denominations in this state are Congregational- 
ists, Episcopalians, Quakers, Presbyterians, Calvinistic Baptists, Sande- 
manians, Freewill Baptists, IVIethodisti, Universaiists and Shakers. 
These we have endeavored to enumerate in the order of time in which 
they appeai'ed in New-Hampshire. The CGngregationalisis are ihe 
most numerous. The first settlers of Dover and Exeter ad^opted the 
congregational form of worship. In those places, were the first church- 
es of this denomination organized. In the year 1700, there existed only 
five churches ; in 1748, there were 30 ; and the present number ta'Ay be 
estimated at about 160, though some of ihem are ve.-y small, and several 
have become nearly extinct. The present number of communicants is 
from 11,000 to 12,000. The Episcopalians were here at an early peri- 



38 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



od. Prior to 1638, an Episcopal churoh or chapel was erected at 
Portsmouth, and Rev. Richard Gibson was the first miuistsr, who re- 
mainfd till 1642. A Cew Quakers were here at an early period, and a 
society v;as formed at Seabrook in the year 17G1. The Calvi7iistic Bap- 
t'isls are the second denomination in point of numbers. Ihe first 
church was ibrmed at Newtown in 1755. In 1780, there existed in this 
state 19 churches. The Preioy^enans who were first est-ablished here 
were a colony of Scotch emigrants, who settled Londonderry in 1719. 
The FreeioUl Baptists are a numerous class of christian*. The first 
church of this denomination was founded at New-Durham^' in 1780, by 
Eider Benjamin Randal!. This i^enomination was recognized as a 
distinct sect by an act of the Legislature, Dec. 7, 1804. The Methodists 
were recognized bylaw as a distinct religious sect June 15, 1807. The 
Sandemanians are (he followers of Mr. Robert Sandeman, who came to 
this country in 1764. There i» but one society, which is at Portsmouth. 
The UnivcrsulistS were recognized as a distinct religious sect June 13, 
1805. The first society of this denomination was formed at Portsmouth 
as early as 1781. The Shakei's, of which there are two communities, 
one at^ Canterbury, the other at Enfield, first appeared in this state in 

ifsa. 

Societies. — The New-Hampshire Medical Society was incorpora- 
ted Feb. 16, 1791. It was formed for the purpose of diffusing a know- 
edgfc of medjcai science in this state, and for discouraging empiricism 
and quackery b}' preventing all unqualified persons from practising Med- 
Jcinc andSLi!ger3% The society consists of three grades of members, 
viz. Honorary Members, Fellovvs, and Associates. The two first belong 
to the general society. The Associates belong to the District Societies, 
of v\'hicii there are six, the Eastern, Centre, Western, Strsiibrd, South- 
ern and Grafton Districts. A person must have been in practice two 
years beibrc he can be elected an Associate. An Asj-ociate ,is at all 
times eligiule to the oifiCe of a Fellow. 'J he number of persons named 
in the act of incorporation was 19, all of (vhom were constiiuicd Fellows. 
The number of Fellows v-'ho have beer, elected and accepted, feince the 
society went irto operation, is 148. The present number is 114. -The 
number of Honorary iMembcrs who have been elected is 26. From Feb. 
28, 1794, to Feb. i8. 1822, one hundred andiwo candidates were exam- 
ined and approbated by the Ceiisovs of the society for the practice of 
Physic and Surgery. The annual meetiiig i? holdsn at Concord on the 
Tuesday preceding the first Wednesday la Jur;e. Nine Fellows consti- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 39 



tute a quorum to transact business. At this meetingr, the officers, con- 
sisting of a President, Vice-President, two Counsellors and iwo Censors 
frona each district, a Secretary, Librarian, the Library Committee, Com- 
mittee of Correspondence and two Delegates to attend the Medical Ex- 
aminations at Dartmouth Cottege, are chosen. 

There are six Agricultural Societies, one in each county. That in 
Rockingham was incorporated in 1814 ; in Cheshire, 1816; these in 
Strafford, Hillsborough and Grafton in 1818; and in Coos, 1S19. Con- 
siderable benefit has accrued from these institutions to the agricultural 
interest. Meetings for Cattle Shows and the exhibition of domeEtic 
manufactures are annually holdea. and are very generally attended. The 
distribution of premiums serves to create a spirit of competition among 
the members of the society, which cannot but be useful in promoting the 
interests of two of the most important branches of national wealth ^nd 
prosperity, those of agriculture and manufactures. For a few years, the 
patronage of the Legislature was extended to these institutions, each of 
which, excepting Coos, received grants of about !|;400 in aid of their 
funds. It is much to be regretted, that one branch of the Legislature 
at the last session, withdre>v their fostering patronage from an object de- 
serving so much encouragement. On the 19(h of De:erab*r, 1820, a 
Board of Agriculture was incorporated. It consists of six delegates, one 
to be chosen by ballot from each ©f the county agricultural societies 
within this state, who meet annually at Concord on the 2d Wednesday in 
June. In 1821, the Legislature granted $250 to be appropriated by the 
Board, in defraying the necessary expenses of procuring and preparing 
materials for the publication of a pamphlet, to contain such reports and 
returns from the county societies, and such essays relative to agricultural 
improvements as the Board n ay think will conduce to tlie advancement 
of agriculture. A similar grant for the same purposes was made at the 
last s6ssi^Jn of the Legislature. 

There ave, in this state, many religious and charitable i^strtutions, of 
which (he mere enumeration would extend this article to a dispropor- 
tiouaie leagth. The most prominent only can be noticed. The New- 
Hampshire Bible Society was organized in June, 1812. Its object is to 
supply the destitute 'vith Bibles, either gratuitously, or at reduced prices. 
It has upwards of 700 members, who are required to pay annually two 
dollars eack, and may receive one bible, or three dollars and receive t%vo 
bibles. It became auxilary to the American Bible Society in Sept. 1816, 
to which it has remitted $3216 for Uibl*s, and $1231 97 as dona- 



40 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



tions. The New-Hampshire Missionary Society was instituted in .^ept. 
1801, and is designed to furnish preaching and religious instruction to 
destitute churches in this stale. The amount of its funds is above $3000. 
The Rockingham, Hillsborough, Cheshire and Grafton Bible and Char- 
itable Societies are each of them u'eful institutions, and are extending 
their benefits to objects within their respecl've limits. 

There are 35 Musical Societies, which have had no small Influence in 
collecting and introducing into practice the best productions on music ; 
in acquiring and diffusing a correct taste for psalmody ; and in contrib- 
uting a large share towards the eipjoyment of the pleasures of sacred 
harfGony. 

The Grand Lodge of New-Hampshire was constituted July 8, 1789. — 
Under its jurisdiction, there are 37 Masonic Lodges, several of which 
have been incorporated. A Grand Royal Arch Chapter was instituted 
in 1820, and there are sis subordinate Chapters, viz. St. Andrews at 
Hanover, established 3^n. 27, 1807; Trinity at Hopkinton, Feb. 16, 
1807; Washington at Portsmouth, Nov. 1815 ; Cheshire, at Keene, 
May 4, 1816; Franklin, at Bath, July 10, 1820; and Webb at Clare- 
mont, July 1M821. 

There have been incorporated in this state 31 academical associations, 
169 social libraries, 117 religious societies and congregations, and 56 so- 
cieties of various denominatiens not classed. 

Banks. — There are in this state ten banking institutions in operation, 
and two others, one at Amherst and the other at Claremont, incorporat- 
ed in June, 1822, which have not yet gone into operation. 



Names of Mtrnks, 


IVhere located. 


Incorporated. 


Charters exliire. 


Capital. 


New-Hacnpshire, 


Portsmouth, 


Jan. 3. 1792. 


Jan. 3, 1842. 


200,000 


N. H. Union, 


do. 


June 18,1802. 


July 1, 1822. 


200,000 


Portsmouth, 


do. 


June 11,1803. 


July 1, 1823. 


200,000 


Rockingham, 


do. 


Nov. 5. 1813. 


Jan. 1, 1834. 


200,000 


Strafford, 


Dover, 


June 11,1803. 


July 4, 1823. 


150,000 


Exeter, 


Exeter, 


Dec. 19,1803. 


Jan. 1. 1824. 


200,000 


Coos, 


Haverhill, 


Dec. 24.1803. 


Jan. 1, 1824. 


100,000 


Cheshire, 


Keene, 


Dec. 24,1803. 


March 1,1824. 


150,000 


Concord, (Upper) 
Concord, (Lower) 


; Concord, 


June 18, 1806. 


July 1, 1826. 


200,000 



Both the Concord Banks issue bills under and claim the same charter. 
The New-Hampshire Union, Portsmouth, Strafford, Coos and Cheshire 
Banks were re-incorporated, with certain restrictions and limitaticiw, 
Jun^ 28, 1821, for the further terra of twenty years. The name of the 
003 Bank was altered to Grafton Bank, and all bills issued after the fir» 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 41 



of January, 1822, were to assume that name. These banking institutions 
are subject to a tax of one half of one per cent, on the amount which 
shall, on the second Wednesday of June annually, constitute the actual 
stock of said banks. The object of this tax is to raise a fund to be pledg- 
ed and appropriated to the endowment or support of a college for in- 
struction in the higher branches of science and literature m this state, 
Ic be applied in such way and manner as the legislature shall hereafter 
direct. Q:^ The sums noted in the preceding table, as the capital of 
our bank?, are their allowed capital, ai.d not the amount actually paid in. 
— S€& Literary Fund, p. 26. 

The State House.— This beEuliful edifice is situate in Concord 
in the county ol Rockingham, upon a gently indijied plane between 
mp in and state streets, and has two regular fronts, east and west. Tbo 
centre of the building is fifty feet In front by fifty -seven in depth ; the 
wings are each thirty-eight feet in front by forty-nine in depth ; the whole 
making a parallelogram of one hundred and twenty -six feet in lengih by 
forty-nine in width, with the addition of a projecti-yu in the ce.ntre oT 
each front of four feet. It is two stories above the basement, which 
rises five feet above the surfece of the ground : the first story is nine- 
teen feet ; the second eighteen feet in the wings and thirty-one in the 
centre. The roofs of the wings are levelled at the outer ends and rise 
ten feet against the body of the centre ; the roof oi the centre rises thir- 
teen {e.ei, presenting gable ends in front ; from the middle of which, the 
cupola rises, eighleen feet square, to the height of fifteen feet above t&e 
ridge ; thence in an ociasgular form, thirteen feet in diameter, sevfenteen 
feet, and is covered vnlh a roof in the form of an inverted acorn rising 
to the height of nine feet, and surmounted with s gilt ball, thirtj^-three 
inches in diameter, on which stands an eagle six and a half feet in height, 
with its wings partially espaaded. Each front has in its lower story 
three doors and six windows, and in its upper story, nine windows with 
a semi-eliiptical window in each gable end : four windows in the south, 
and two in th» north end. The outside walls of the building are of 
granite sione, hammered, and built in a plain style— the only ornament 
being a Tuscan frontispiece of stone work at each central front door. 
The roof and cupola ar« ef wooden materials. The roof is ornamen- 
ted with a coviag appropriate to the Doric order, and a balustrade up- 
on the wings. The square part of the cupola is ornamented with twelve 
lauic columns, three at each corner.placed in a triangular position, with 
an appropriate Coving and balustrade. The octangular part has one lo. 
nic column at each corner, surmounted with an urn, 
E 
\ 



42 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



In the second stoiy of the centre is the Representatives' chamber, 
with an arched ceiling rising thirty feet from the floor, elegantly finished 
with stucco-work. The north wing contains the Senate chamber, eigh- 
teen feet in height, with a beautiful ceiling of plaistering, ornamented 
with stucco-work, supported by four Ionic columns and an equal num- 
ber of pilasters. This room, for its neatness and elegance of finishing, 
is not perhaps inferior to any in the (Jnited States. In the south wing 
ate contained the Council chamber and anti-chaniber, both of which 
are finished in a handsome style. In the same wing, in the lower story, 
which is divided into two parts, are the Secretary's and Treasurer's offi- 
ces, over which is a suite of committee rooms. In the north wing un- 
der the Senate chamber is a spacious room intended for public hear- 
ings before committees of the legislature. This rpom is also conveni- 
ently arranged and is sufficiently commodious for the accomraodatioa 
of the Superior Court, when holding a law terra. Under the Represen- 
tatives' chamber is an open area, in which are eight Doric columns, sup- 
porting the flooring above. This area, with the adjacent passages in 
the wings, cooled by (he current of fresh air passing through the spa- 
cious doors and windows opening into them, affi>rds, in the warm month 
of June, a delightful retreat to legislators.when fatigued by long attention 
to their arduous duties, or heated by the ardor of debate, above stairs ; 
and it is by no means an uncommon cass to see them availing them- 
selves of the benefits of this pleasant retirement. 

The lot on which the State House stands contains something mijwe 
than two acres,enclosed on its sides with a solid wall of hammered stone 
about five feet high ; the front fences are of stone posts and sills and iron 
eastings, with gates of the same material. 

The expenses of building this house, including the fences, the lot of 
ground whereon it stands and the furniture of the bouse, amounted to 
nearly eighty -two thousand dollars. The amount drawn from the treas- 
ury of the state in pursuance of sundry appropriations for that pur- 
pose, %vas $67,372 M 
Labor done at the State Prison, as appears from the char- 
ges on the books there, amounted to the sum of $10,455 16 
The lot of land whei-eon the house stands, the sto«e for the 
house, and drawing the same, all which was given by a 
few patriotic individuals of CoacoRd, amounted to 4,000 00 



$81,827 60 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 43 



In the construction of this building with its appendages, including 
the fencing of the lot, there' were required 37,000 (eet of hammer- 
ed stone. The facings of the walls and partitions of the basement, 
which are coarsely hammered, may be estimated at 4,800 square 
feet : the walls of the house, door poit«, threshholds, window sills, &c. 
which are finely hammered, at 16,200 fest ; steps, flagging, walk«, &c. 
at 6000 feel, and 10,000 feet for the fences. In addition to these quanti- 
ties, there were required 7,000 cubic feet of rough stone for the founda- 
tion of the building, and 5,000 feel for the foundation of the fence. 
There were also required 630 thousand bricks, 840 casks of lime, 12 
tons of plaister, 7 tons of soap-stone, 7 tons iron, 4,000 pounds of steel, 
8,000 bushels of coal, 500 thousand feet of lumber, two and a half tons 
of lead, 2000 feet of glass, one thousand dollars value of oil and paints, 
and five hundred dollars value of nails. . • 

State Prisojst. — The state prison or penitentiary is a handsomo 
building, situated in Concord, three stories high, built entirely of granite. 
It is 70 feet in length, 36 feet wide, the walls of which are three feet ia 
thickness. It contains in all 36 cells, the dimensions of which are 3 feet 
by 9, with the exception of six in the upper story fcr the accommodation 
of the sick, &c. which are 10 by 17. The yard is enclosed by a faced 
wall of 259 feet by 192, fourteen feet high, surmounted by a range of 
pickets ten feet in lengih. Connected with the prison, is a house for the 
accommodation of the warden, his family, guards, &;c. built «lso ©f gran* 
ite. four stories high exclusive of the basement, and is 49 feet by 22. 
The officers, &c. of this in?titution are a warden, physician, chaplain, 
depuly-'.varden, tour guards, two overseers of the work-shops — the whole 
of whom receive their pay dif ectly from the proceeds of the prison, with 
the exception of the warden, whose salary, $300, is drawn from the trea- 
sury. The governor and council for the time being conslitule the board 
of directors or visitors. The convicts are employed in stone-Cutting, 
coopering, smithing, shoe-making, weaving and tailoring. The prison 
was erected in 1812 ; and cost with the appurtenances about ^37,000 — 
since which time between $4000 and $5000 have been drawn from the 
treasury to defray the expense of additional buildings. The first com- 
mitment to this penitentiary was in Noversber, 1812— since which peri- 
od, 199 have been confined, four of whom were females, 19 foreigners. 
Of these, 24 were sentenced for horsestealing; for counterfeiting and 
forgery, 30-, assault, &c. 8 ; manslaughter, 3 ; perjury, 1; arson, 4; 



44 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



burglary, 3 ; stealing, 126, The greatest number conSned at any one 
iiine, 74 — present nanober, 56. 

Previous to the establishment of our state prison, there were eight of- 
fences, that by a law of the stute subjected the offender to capita! pun'- 
i<»hment; but in that year they were reduced to two—treason and wilful 
murder.* If this benevolent change in our laws has not diminished, it 
has not increased, the number of crimes. The expenses of our state 
prison have greatly diminished since the Alterations made in the man- 
agement of its affairs, and the introduction of a new system — the ap- 
pointment of a new warden, and placing the institution under the imrac- 
fh'ate control of the governor and e©unc:l. The police of the prison is 
rigid and salutary. The convicts are dressed in uniform, ¥.n6 comforta- 
bly fed. The sexes are kept apart. Great care is bestowed by the offi- 
cers of 'the institution upon their morals — in the hope of reforming the 
offender, and fitting him to respect and observe those laws, for the \iola- 
lion of which he is condemned to suffer. 

In the year ending May SI, 1818, the expenses of this institution ex- 
ceeded the profits of the labtr of convicts, &c. in the sum of $4235 61. 
In June of that year, the legislature deemed it necessarj to alter the in- 
ternal system of the penitentiary ; and appointed new officers to man- 
age its concern?. For the year ending May 31, 1819, (he whole expense 
of the prison exceeded the profits in the sum of $862 72. In the year 
ending May 31, 1820— $345 45. In the year ending May 31, 1821— 
$232 89. During the year ending May 31, 1822, there was a net gain 
over the expense of $392 50. The sums drawn from the treasury for 
the support of the prison, since 1817, are as follow : 

For the year endiag May 31, 1818, . . . 7000 00 
May 31, 1819. . . . 3152 34 
May 31, 1820, . . . 2100 00 
May 31, 1821, ... 963 00 
May 31, 1822, . . . 1000 00 

And it is confidently expected that no further aid from the treasury will 
be necessary for the support of the prison for a number of years, unless 
some unforeseen accident should change the aspect of its affairs. 

Curiosities. — As the?e will be described at some length in the 
ceurse of this work, the reader is referred to the heads under which they 

• The crimes forroeily punishable with death, were— f eason, murder, rape, so- 
domy, burglary, arson, robbery, and one spt'cies of forgery. Fines &nd imprison- 
ment, the lash and the pillory, were also bestowed, with unsparing severity, on 
minor offence*. The two latter m^des of punishment are now emirely abolished,. 



NEW.HAMP3H1RE GAZETTEER. 45 



are noticed. See Amoskeag Falls, Atkinson, Harrington, Bellows Fal!s» 
Chester, Durham, Franconia, Hampton, Ossipee, Saubornton, White 
Mountains. 

Indians.— Whatever relates to the aboriginals of our country, those 
early proprietors of the soil which «ve inherit, must be interesting to pos- 
terity. The lands which we cultivate, the forests, the rivers and moun- 
tains around us, once swarmed with a distinct race of the human fami- 
ly. They, whose character was once so lofty and independent, are 
hardly seen among us, and if seen, are seen "begging the price of their 
perdition." They, who might have exterminated the Europeans on their 
arrival, have themselves become exterminated, and most of their memo- 
rials have perished with them. It is much to be regretted, that so little 
has been preserved respecting the Indians of New-Hampshire ; but 
there have been causes for this omission in recording their historj 
which could not easily have been removed. " In the first place, the hor. 
ror proceeding from the cruelties of their warfare forbade the calmness 
of investigation. As long as they were formidable, curiosity was over- 
powered by terror ; and there was neither leisure nor inclination, to 
contemplate their character as a portion of tht human family, while the 
glare of conflagraiion reddened the midnight sky, and the yelJs of the 
savage, mingled with the shrieks of the butchered victims, rode as por- 
tentous messengers, on every gale. But that state of things has ceased 
to exist. The white men in America have become too numerous to 
fear any longer the effects of savage barbarity, such as assailed the early 
inhabitants of our state, and carried terror to the stoutest heart." A 
spirit of sympathy should now be excited for this unfortunate race of 
beings. Pity for those that remain should fill our breasts. 

*' Indulge, our native land, indulge the tear, 
" That steals Impassioned oVr a nation's doom ; 
" To us each twig from Adam's stock is dear, 
" And teai-s of sorrow deck an Indian's tomb.'' 

The Indians who formerly inhabited New-Hampshire may be consid- 
ered under five separate divisions : viz. 1. Those tribes residing on Pas- 
catcqua river and its branches. 2, The various tribes on the Merrimack 
and its tributary streanw. 3. The Ossipee Indians on Lake Ossipee and 
the PequackelLs on Saco river, in the N. E. part of the state. 4. The In- 
dians on Ccnneclicut river. 5. The Coos Indians. 

When the first settlers arrived, they found on Squamscot river, in the 
viciiiity of Exeter, a tribe under Wahangnonawitt, as their sagamore j 
£2 



4l> NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



on Cocheco river around Dover, lived the Newichwannock^, having s 
sagamore, named Howls, and on the Pascataqua were the Pascafaqua 
tribe. A'-l these tribes and several others, as tar cast as Kennebeck riv- 
«•, were generally called by the generic name of Abenaquies. On Mer- 
rimack river, there were numerous collections of Indians; as we have 
reason to suppose from the relics which are annually found on its bor- 
ders. In the summer of 1821, parts of three skeletons were found on 
this river, at Bedford, in the county of Hillsborough. One of them ap- 
peared to be interred in a sitting posture, and all their heads lay towards 
the south. During the present year, there was found in the garden of 
Mr. James Riddle of Merrimack, a skeleton supposed to be that of an 
Indian, which had probably been interred more than eighty years. The 
Penacook tribe, which lived in the vicinity of Concord, was the most 
considerable in numbers and importance of any tribe vvhich lived in this 
state on Merrimack river. In 1629, Passaconarvay was their grand sa- 
chem, who lived till the year 1660, and who ever remained friendly to the 
English, and at his death, strictly enjoined his son and successor, Won- 
a'anset, io maintain peace with his English neighbors. Around the 
falls at Amo'skeag, have been discovered many traces of Indians, and 
here probably was one of their best fishing grounds. The Ossipee and 
Pequackett Indians at the lime the first settlers of this state arrived, 
probably amounted to nearly 800 souls. On Connecticut river, there 
were doubtless many tribes, but we are lost in darkness and perplexity 
when we attempt to name them or point out their individual residence. 
The history of the Coqs Indians is involved in the same obscurity. The 
Indians, inhabitiiig this state, several times suffered from the Mohawks, 
a fierce and savage race living in the county of Montgomery in the state 
of New- York. Some of the small tribes were nearly exterminated by 
their ferocity and savage barbarity. They were more cruel to -the east- 
ern Indians than the eastern Indians were to the Europeans. The In- 
dians in this state inhabited those regions where the means of subsis- 
tence could be the most easily obtained. It w^s observed by the earliest 
inhabitants of this country, that they were most numerous on the banks 
of large rivers, where their wants were, in a great measure, supplied by 
the abundance offish, which, at former periods, those streams produced. 
In the gradual diminutTOn and final extinction of the aboriginals of New- 
Hampshire, we have a melancholy specimen of what has happened in 
like manner to all the Indian tribes, who once inhabited the territory of 
New-England, except a few feeble remnants in the south part of Massa- 



NEW-HAl\rPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 47 



chusetts and some in Coniiecticut ; and of hundreds &( other powerful 
tribe?, once spread over the seitled parts of om* country. And such will 
be the inevitable destiny of ali Indians now rrjiogled among oui* white 
population, if a radical change in our treatment of ihem, be not adopt- 
ed. The monuments and relics of the Indians in this state have been 
accurately described by Dr. Belknap in (he 3J vol. of his Hist, of ?^. H. 
page 63, to which We refer the reader. 

History. — New-Hampshire was discovered by Capt. John Smith, an 
English navigator, in 1614. The name was givfn to it by Capt. John 
Mason, the original patentee. In the earliest grant made to Mason and 
Gorges in 1622, it is styled Laconia, and in some of our earliest histories 
it is called Capt. Mason's Patent and Pascataqua. The first settlements 
were made at Dover and Portsmouth in the year 1623. The first settlers, 
of whom the principal were Edward Hilton, William Hilton, and David 
Thompson, were sent from England by the original proprietors of Laco- 
nia, to found a plantation on Pascataqua river ; to cultivate the vine, dis- 
cover mines, carry on the fisheries and trade with the natives. The two 
Hiltons, with their associates, settled at Dover neck, about seven miles 
from Portsmouth. Thompson, with his company, set down nearer the 
harbor. In 1629, Rev. John Wheelwright purchased of several Sacbems 
the country between the Merrimack and Pascataqua, from the ocean a 
far back as the town of Amherst; about fifty miles. In 1638, Mr. 
Wheelwright, with a small company from Braintree, commenced the 
settlement of Exeter ; and the same year the town of Hampton was set- 
tled. These were the first towns settled in New-Hampshire. The in- 
habitants of these places met with many difficulties in their progress. 
Their land was granted over, and over again, in successive patents; and 
with different patentees, they had many perplexing disputes. The cli- 
mate was more severe, and their soilless fruitful, than that of Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut. In the beginning of their plantations, they were 
more divided in their principles, and less harmonious in their measures, 
than the people of those colonies. At the same time, they had no stable- 
government, of sufficient vigor to discourage dissentions. They were, 
also, not a little perplexed with loose Ministers, and Magistrates ; such as 
generally withdraw from regular, well principled society, to indulge their 
mischievous dispositions, and establish their influence in more imperfect 
communities. In 1641, sll these settlements, by a voluntary act, submit- 
ted to Massachusetts, and were comprehended in the county of Norfolk, 
which extended from the Merrimack to the Pascataqua. The govern* 



48 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



ment of Great Britain, for many years, paid them but little attention. 
At length iu 1679, a new government was estabhshed, and New-Hamp- 
shire was made a royal province by commijsion from Charles II. The 
commission was brought to Portsmouth by Edward Randolph, January 
1, 1680 ; but it was received with great reluctance by those persons nom- 
iaated in it to the Presidency and Council. The first General Assembly 
met at Portsmouth, on the 16th of March following, in which Portsmouth, 
Dover, Hampton and Exeter were the only towns represented.— In 16S6, 
a change took place, and all New-England was entrusted to a President 
and Council. After the imprisonment of Andros, the union with Massa- 
chusetts was revived in 1689, but in 1692, the old separate government 
was established. From 1699 to 1702, it was united with Massachusetts 
and New-York, and from 1702 to 1741, with Massachusetts. In 1741, 
the boundary lines were established by royal authority, by which New- 
Hampshire received from Massachusetts a tract of country, of fourteen 
miles in breadth, and above fifty in length, more than the former had ever 
claimed. The same year, Benning Wentworth was appointed Gover- 
nor and continued in office until 1767, when he was superseded by 
John Wentworth, who continued in office till the revolution. A tempo- 
rary government was established in 1776, to continue durirg the war 
with Great Britain. It consisted of a house of representatives, and a 
council of twelve, with the addition of an executive committee to act in 
the recess of the legislature. The number of this committee varied 
from six to sixteen. The president of the council was also president cf 
the executive committee. The Hon. Mesheck Weare filled this responsi- 
ble office throughout the war. A new constitution vas established in 
1784; and this being altered and amended in 1792, is the permanent 
constitution of the state. We conceive it unnecessary to introduce 
more of the history of New-Hampshire into this general view, especially 
when we are in possession of such an invaluable history as that of the 
Rev. Dr. Belknap. 



©tiitval Tim ot tfje ^ountim. 



ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. 



The county of Rockingham is situated between 42° 41' and 43° 27'' 
N. latitude. It is bounded N. and N, E. by Stsaftord county; E. by the 
Atlantic, from the mouth of the Pascataqua to the line of Massachusetts ; 
S. by Ma«g. ; W. by the county of Hillsborough. Its length is about 50 
miles; its breadth, from the S. W. corner of Pelham to Portsmouth, is 
36 miles. It is of a triangular shape, being no more than 6 miles wide at 
the N. W. part. It comprises an area of 661,640 acres, or 1.034 square 
miles nearly. There are no remarkable elevations in t|iis county : the 
surface, however, is uneven, and in the N. part, from the higher cminea- 
ces, affords fine views ©f the surrounding country. The highest points 
are. Saddleback mountain in Northwood and Deerfield, Fort, in Ep- 
som, Catamount in Pittsfitld, and Bean's hill in Northfield. The Winne- 
pisiogee river v^'^ashes the N. bouiwlary of this county, falling into the 
Merrimack at the N. W. corner. From thence the Merrimack foims 
the ^vestern lirje to the to'>vn of Concord, where it receives the vralers 
of the Contoocook from the county of Hillsborough. Meandering 
through Concord, it enriches some fine tracts of interval land, and re- 
ceivps the waters of the Soucook at the S. E. coroer of the town. The 
Suncook joins the Merrimack at the S. corner of Pembroke. The 
Lamprey, Exeter, Beaver and Spiggot rivers water the E. and S. E. 
parts of the county. The largest collection of water is the Great Bay, 
between Newington and New-Market, and connecting- with the Pascata- 
qua. Massabesick pond lies pr.ncipally in Chester, and is picturesque 
from its numerous islands and the surrounding elevations. The other 
principal ponds are, Island pond in Hampstead, Great and Country 
ponds in Kingston, Pleasant pond in Deerfield, Turkey, Long and Turtle 
ponds in Concord. 1 he soil of the county of Rockingham, having been 
longer under cultivation than that of any other county, is very fertile ; 
and agricultural pursuits are here crowned with much success. The 
number of persons engaged in agriculture, in 1820, was 10,522; in com- 
merce, 609 ; in manufactures, 1;973. Portsmouth has the only sea-porti^ 



50 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



and is the largest town in the state. Exeter is an ancient town, and a 
place of much business. Concord is the seat of the state government, 
and is a flourishing town. Exeter and Concord are the seats of jus- 
tice. The population of this county in 1775, was 37,463 ; 43.169 in 
1790; 45,427 in 1800; 50,175 in 1810: the population in 1820 was 
55,246, or 53.4 to the square njiie. 

STATISTICAL TABLE. 







5" 


CO 

o 


? 


^ 


^ 
^ 


Q 
S. 


Q 
o 


n 


-5 


1= 


Towns. 


OS 

r 


1 


o 

c 


P 


a> 


3 


3 

3 
1^ 


3 


5' 
1 




1 




i 




p 










_ 


1 






Allenstown 


T 


~~r 


4 


2 




I 5 


2 








1 


Atkinson 


1 


6 


3 


2 


2 


3 


1 






1 


Bow 


1 


8 


8 


3 




e 


2 


1 


1 


1 1 


Brentwood 


3 




4 




3 


5 


5 


31 4 


1 4 


Candia 


2 


12 


12 


1 


5 


5 


6 


2 


1 


1 


1 


Canterbury 


3 


9 


8 


3 


4 


4 


3 


1 


1 


2 


2 


Chester 


2 


16 


16 


7 


8 


18 


10 


1 


1 




4 


Chichester 


1 


6 


6 


4 


3 


5 


2 


1 


2 






Concord 


2 


20 


20 


11 


20 


6 


7 


4 


3 


2 


7 


Dee. fit Id 


2 


11 


11 


8 


6 


10 


8 


2 


3 


4 


6 


East Kingsloa 


1 


4 


4 




1 


2 


4 


1 


1 






Eppiwg 


3 


8 


8 


5 


7 


5 


3 


1 


1 






jEpgom 


1 


6 


6 


6 


4 


8 


7 


3 


3 


4 




lExeter 


3 


6 


6 


8 


19 


4 


5 


1 


1 


1 




Greenland 


1 


4 


4 


2 


3 


1 


4 


1 








Hampstead 


1 


8 


6 


4 


2 


2 


2 


1 


2 


1 


I 


Hampton 


2 


4 


4 


3 


4 


3 


5 








21 


Hampton Falls 


2 


2 


3 


2 


2 


2 


2 


1 


1 




1 


Ha'A-ke 


1 


3 


3 






2 


1 










Kensington 


2 




3 


1 


3 


2 


1 








1 


ffingsion 


1 


5 


5 


6 


5 


4 


5 




2 


2 


Londonderry 


2 


18 


18 


4 


8 


10 


8 


2 


2 


1 




Loudon 


2 


9 


9 


3 


8 


6 


6 


2 


i 


3 


3 


New-Castle 


1 


1 


1 


3 


1 




1 










Newin^ton 
New-Market 


1 


1 


2 


2 






1 










2 


6 


6 


4 


10 


2 


3 


1 


1 


1 




Newtown 


1 


2 


2 


1 


1 


1 












Northfield 


1 


8 


8 




2 


5 




2 


3 




4 


North-Hampton 


1 


3 


3 


1 


1 


3 


4 










Northwood 


2 


8 


2 


2 


6 


8 


3 


2 






4 


Nottingham 


1 


8 


8 


4 


1 


7 


4 


1 1 




1 


iPelham 


2 


5 


5 




4 


3 


3 


1 1 




1 


i Pembroke 


2 


3 


8 


3 


11 


6 


5 


= 


'1 




4 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



51 



Towns. 




(11 
o 

a" 
c 
2. 

a, 

1' 


cr 


^ 
n 


P 


1 

1 


O 

1 


ST 

2. 

¥ 


9 

9- 
3 

i' 


3 

Si 


1 
1 


Pittsfield 


2 


9 


9 


2 


3 


7 


3 


2 


2 


3 


3 


Plai?tow 


1 


4 


4 


3 


4 


1 


2 






1 


1 


Poplio 


1 


3 


3 


1 


1 


3 


3 


1 


1 




3 


Portsmouth 


7 




9 


7 


280 




4 


\ l!l2 


12 


Raymond 


1 


8 


8 






4 


3 


1 


1 




4 


Rye 


2 


2 


2 


2 


2 


3 


4 










Salem 


2 


9 


9 


3 


4 


3 


4 


2 


3 






Sandown 


1 


3 


4 






4 


2 


1 


2 




3 


Seabrook 


3 


3 


3 






3 


3 






5 




ISouth-Hampton 


1 


4 


4 


2 


3 


1 


1 




1 






Strathara 


2 


4 


4 


1 


1 


3 


3 


1 


1 


5 


6 


Windham 


J 


' 


6 




1 


2 


1 


1 






1 


45 towns 


78 


276 


281 


127 


453 


188 


156 |47 


i! 


49 


81 



Besides the above, there are 4 distilleries, 3 woollen and 5 cotton fac. 
Dries, 4 oil mills, antl 6 paper mills, four at Pembroke, one in Northfield 
and one at Exeter. There are nine printing establishments in this 
county, four at Concord, two at Exeter, and three at Portsmouth. Four 
of these are newspaper oflices, from which about 5600 papers are issu- 
ed weekly. There a?e seven incorporated academies in this county, 
several of which are well endowed. That at Exeter is one of the beat 
institutions of the kind in the countr3\ The first settlements in New- 
Hampshire were made at Dover, Portsmouth, Exeter and Hampton. 
The first settlement at Portsmouth commenced in the year 1623. Until 
the formation of counties in 1771, all the courts were holden and all 
public business transacted at Portsmouth. On the 19th of March in 
that year this coimty was formed, and named by Gov. Wentworth, in 
honor of Charles Watson Wentworth. K. G. F. R. S. Marquis of Rock- 
ingham. On the! 6th of June 1791, the divisional lines wer£ defined 
and established by the new government of the state. 



STRAFFORD COUNTY. 
This county is situated between 43° 03' and 44° 02' N. latitude ; boua- 
ded N. by the county of Coos, E. by the state of Maine, S. and S. W 



52 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



by Rocking^ham, W. by the Pemigewasset river, which separates it from 
parts of the counties of Grafton and llillsborougb, and N. W. by Graf- 
ton county. It is 63 miles in length, froni the mouth of Lamprey river to 
the N. line of Burton 5 33 rtiilei wide at the centre. Its shape, like that 
of all the other couolies, is irregular. It contains an area ol 861,171 acres, 
being 1345 1-2 square miles. This county, which extends to ihe neigh- 
borhood of the White Mountains, has several considerable mountains 
within its limits. Chocorua, in Burton, Sandwich mountain in the 
same range, Ossipee and Effingham mountains, Gunstock mountain in 
Gilford, Moose, in Brookfield and Middleton^ and other heights along 
the ridge denominated Blue Hills, are the most elevated. Bed Hill in 
Moultonborough has a commanding elevation, and has long attracted 
visitors. Below, the waters of the Winnepisiogee lie open to the eye, 
and its numerous islands and bays present a fine appearance. This lake 
IS much the largest body of water in the state, being 22 miles long, and 
varying from one to eight miles in width. Sullivan, or Squam lake, lies 
partly in this county, end is 6 miles in leagth and nearly 5 in width. Ossi- 
pee lake is also in this county. Great bay, Long bay and Merrymeeting 
bay, are connected with the Winnepisiogee lake. Smith's pond, in Wolf- 
borough, Sixmile, in Eaton, Merrymeeting, in New-Durham, and Love- 
well's, in Wakefield, are the principal ponds. The larger rivers are (he 
Pascataqua, Salmon-Fall, Cochecho, Saco and Swift rivers. The soil of 
Strafford county, though presenting a great variety, is generally good. 
Our lands are generally hard of cultivation, but the patient laborer finds 
(an ample reward for his industry. Persons in this county engaged in 
agriculture in 1820, were 10,28'^; in manufactures, 1,538 ; and in com- 
tnerce, 9. 





STATISTICAL TABLE 


• 
















f I 


en 


f 







9 


^ 


9 


D3 


? 

n 






^ 


i 


s 


2 


P 


s 


5 




5' 




S 


Towns. 








r 
p 


^ 




r 


5 
f 


1. 


i 

g- 

5" 


? 


p 




















!? 






Alton 


3 20 


14 


1 1 5 


11 


5 1 1 


11 3 


3 


Barnstead 


3 11 


11 


3 1 10 


7 


5 2 


A 




Berrington 


1 10 


7 


1 1 3 


4 


4l 1 


1 


2 


Brookfield 




1 1 


' 4 


4 




I 


4 


1 






' 1 


2 



NEW-HARIPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



53 



IS 
re 

Towns. ^ 


I 


r 

3' 


-J 






g 

5 
3 


C 

o 

S' 


n 

a. 
1' 


3 


5 

■D 




r 

i 


2. 


O 

C 








F" 


1 


3 

o 


F 






• 


tr- 














3 

n 1 






Biuton 




4 


3 






2 


4 










Centre-Harbor 


1 




2 


2 


1 


2 


1 






1 


1 


Conway 


2 


12 


6 


3 


4 


4 


5 


2 


2 






Dover 


2 


10 


8 


5 


30 


2 


4 


5 


4 


7 


7 


Durham 


1 


8 


8 


4 


12 


4 


5 


2 


1 


4 


4 


Eaton 


1 


9 


6 


2 


1 


7 


6 


1 


1 






Effingham 


2 


10 


8 


2 


6 


4 


5 


1 


1 


4 


4 


Farmington 


1 


12 


11 


1 


4 


4 


6 


1 






4 


Gihiianton 


6 


24 


24 


6 


12 


11 


18 


4 


3 


6 




Gilford 


2 


10 


10 


1 


5 


5 


4 


1 


1 


5 




Lee 


2 


7 


7 


2 


3 


7 


6 


1 


1 


3 


5 


Mactbury . 


1 


4 


4 






2 


1 








1 


Meredith 


3 


15 


15 


3 


10 


6 


3 


4 


6 


2 


2 


Middleton 


1 


3 


3 


2 


2 


1 


2 






1 




Moiiitonborough 


1 


9 


9 


2 


1 


5 


5 


1 


1 


1 


1 


Milton 


1 


7 


7 


5 


5 


5 


4 


1 


2 




1 


New-Durham 
























New-Hampton 


3 


12 


12 


2 


2 


8 


4 


2 


2 


3 




Ossipee 


2 


17 


11 


2 


8 


7 


7 


1 


1 




3 


Rochester 


3 


16 


14 


2 


10 


5 


5 


2 


3 




2 


Sanbornton 


3 


19 


18 


3 


8 


15 


24 


5 


8 


10 


10 


Sandwich 


3 


11 


10 


1 


3 


6 


6 


3 


3 


3 


3 


Somersworth 


1 


6 


6 


1 


2 


3 


3 










Strafiford 


1 


14 


12 


1 


4 


5 


4 










Tamworth 


1 


11 


9 


3 


4 


5 


5 


2 


1 


2 


2 


Tuftonborough 


1 


7 


6 


3 


5 


4 


5 


2 


2 




1 


Wakefield 


2 


10 


9 


2 


10 


7 


10 


2 


4 




5 


Wolf borough 


1 


9 


8 


2 


4 


4 


3 


1 


1 


1 


2 


32 Towns, 


|5'o 


1 321 1 282 


1 67 


j 174 


1 let 


)| 170|48|53|57j65| 



There are in this county 7 woollen and 8 cotton factories. Two oi* 
three of the latter are not constantly in operation. Those at Dover, 
however, are extensive and profitable. There are 8 oil mills, 4 distiller- 
ies, and a paper-mill, the latter at Gilford. There is one printing office, 
at Dover. The academies at Gilmanton, Effingham, Sanbornton and 
New-Hampton are incorporated and respectable institutions. There is 
also an academy at Dover and at Gilford. The first settlement in any 
part of the State.was made at Dover by Edward and William Hilton, 
from London, in 1623. During the same year, a settlement commenced 
at Portsmouth. See Gen. View, p. 47. The county of Strafford was 



54 NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



constituted March 19, 1771. The counties being named after the friends 
of Gov. Wentworth, Strafford was probably named in honor of Wil- 
liam Wentworth, the Earl of Strafford. The population in 1775, was 
12,513; in 1790, 23,742; in 1800, 32,614 ; in 1810, 41,595 ; and in 1820, 
51,117. Population to a square mile, 37.9, 



HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. 

Hillsborough county is situated between 42° 4V and 43° 32' N. lati- 
tude. Its greatest length is 52 miles ; its greatest breadth, from the E. 
line of Manchester to the W. line of Hancock, is 32 miles ; and its least 
breadth, from the W. line of New-London to Pemigewasset river, is 
about 15 miles. It contains 1345 square miles, or 796,800 acres. It has 
Grafton county on the N., Rockingham on the E., the state of Massachu- 
setts on the S., and Cheshire county on the W. The surface of this coun- 
ty is generally uneven, though there are but few lofty mountains. The 
Kearsarge and Ragged mountains in the N. part are the highest eleva- 
tions, and from their summits, there is an extensive prospect. Lyndebo- 
rough mountain in the township of Lyndeborough, Sunapee mountain 
in Fishersfield, the Unconoonock in Goflfstown, Crotched in Francestown 
and Society-Land, are of considerable altitude. These will be noticed 
under the towns in which they are situated. This section of New-Hamp- 
shire is well watered. The noble and majestic Merrimack has a course 
of more than 20 miles in this county. In Boscawen, it receives the Con- 
toocook, a river of considerable length and importance, watering sever- 
al towns in the west part of the county. At Dunstable, the Nashua, a 
beautiful stream from Massachusetts, discharges its waters into the Merri- 
mack. Between the mouths of these rivers, the Souhegan and Piscata- 
quog, streams of much value and consequence to the manufacturing in- 
terests, discharge themselves into the Merrimack ; the former in the 
township of Merrimack ; the latter in Bedford. Part of two large col- 
lections of water denominated lakes are situated in this county. The 
southern part of lake Sunapee is in the N. W. part of the township of 
Fishersfield ; and the W. part of lake Massabesick is on the E. bounda. 
ry of Manchester. Besides these, there are numerous ponds interspers- 
ed through the whole extent of territory. Some of the largest of these 
are Chance pond in Andover, Pleasant pond in New-London, Todd's 
pond in Fishersfield, Gregg's pond in Antrim, Pleasant pond in Frances- 
town, Babboosuck pond in Amherst, and Potanipo in Brookline. There 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



are several mineral springs which have been found serviceable in cuta- 
neous affections, but no one has yet acquired general celebrity. Min- 
erals have been found in various places, but not in great abundance. 
The manufactures in this county in 1810, were as follows, viz. 56 tan- 
neries, at which 6150 hides and 12,000 skins were tanned ; 2 distilleries, 
producing 5000 gallons of spirit 5 1 paper-mill, making ^12,000 worth of 
paper ; 38 fulling mills, fulling 126,500 yds. of cloth, and dressing 90,000 
yds. of thin cloths ; 10 shearing machines ; 35 carding machines, card- 
ing 158,000 lbs. of wool ; 2 oil mills, producing 6000 g.allons of oil ; 5 
nail cutting machines, making 10 tons of nails ; 6 trip-hammers ; 16 
hatters, making 4000 fur and 6000 wool hats ; 5490 looms, weaving 1,- 
158,160 yds. of cloth. All these were produced annually. — This coun- 
ty possesses many advantages for manufacturing establishments, and it 
is gratifying to find that many of its citizens are turning their atten- 
tion to this branch of national and individual wealth. 
STATISTICAL TABLE. 



Towns. 


5' 
as 

t 




1 

0' 


I 


1 


1 


5 




5' 

S 

f 


o" 
3. 


cr 

5' 
re 


3 
F 


1 


Amherst 


"T 


12 


9 


4 


4 


4 


3 


~T 




~r 


~T 


Andover 


2 


15 


12 


3 


4 


5 


3 


2 


2 


1 


3 


Antrim 


1 


10 


8 


2 


2 


7 


6 


2 


2 


2 


3 


Bedford 


2 


10 


10 


3 


7 


8 


6 


1 


1 




2 


Boscawen 


2 


15 


15 


9 


6 


17 


5 


4 


5 




5 


Bradford 


1 


7 


7 


1 


4 


3 


3 


1 


1 2 


1 


Brookline 


1 


3 


3 


2 


3 


6 


4 


1 




1 


1 


Deering 


1 


10 


10 


2 


2 


2 


2 


1 


1 




2 


Dunbarton 


1 


8 


7 


4 


5 


6 


2 






1 


1 


Dunstable 


1 


9 


9 


6 


5 


3 


3 


1 


1 


2 


3 


Fishersfield 


1 


8 


7 


1 


2 


3 


2 




1 






France stovvn 


1 


10 


9 


3 


6 


6 


5 


2 


2 




4 


Goffstown 


2 


11 


11 


4 


6 


17 


8 


3 


2 




2 


Greenfield 


1 


9 


9 


1 


2 


3 


1 


1 






2 


Hancock 


1 


9 


8 


2 


3 


6 


6 


1 


1 




2 


Henniker 


3 


10 


10 


3 


5 


7 


6 


2 


4 


3 


3 


Hillsborough 


1 


13 


13 


6 


7 


8 


5 


3 


3 


3 


6 


Hollis 


1 


13 


12 


2 


4 


6 


5 


1 


1 




1 


Hooksett 




5 


5 


5 




4 












Hopkinton 


3 


17 


16 


3 


7 


5 


5 


2 


2 


6 


6 


Lyndeborough 


1 


10 


9 


2 


2 


4 


3 


1 






2 



NEW -HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 





1 

05^ 


1 


CA2 
1 


f 


o 




s. 


O 


9 

5, 


TO 


^ 


Towjvs. 


t 


i' 


n 


s 


^ 


5 


g 


i 

i. 


1 


3 


1 


Litchfield 


"l 


3 


3 


1 




4 


2 


1 






Manchester 


1 


7 


4 


2 


2 


7 


4 




1 






Mason 


1 


10 


10 


1 


3 


5 


4 


1 


o 




1 


Menimack 


1 


9 


9 


5 


5 


8 


5 


2 


2 




2 


Milford 


2 


7 


7 




3 


12 


4 


2 


2 




1 


Mont-Vernon 


1 


4 


4 


1 


3 


2 


1 








1 


New-Boston 


2 


16 


14 


1 


3 


25 


6 


2 


2 


1 


2 


New-Ipswich 


2 


9 


9 


3 


4 


4 


3 




3 


1 


1 


New-London 


1 


8. 


8 




3 


4 


3 


2 


2 




2 


Nottingham- West 


2 


10 


10 


1 


3 


4 


4 


2 


1 






Fsterborough 


2 


6 


6 


1 


6 


4 


3 


2 


1 


1 


1 


Salisbury 


3 


13 


13 


3 


8 


10 


5 


3 


3 


2 


6 


Sharon 




3 


2 




1 


2 


1 










Society-Land 


1 


3 


1 


















Sutton 


2 


10 


9 




2 


8 


3 


3 


1 


3 


3 


Temple 


1 


6 


6 




2 


4 


4 


1 


1 




1 


Warner 


2 


17 


15 


2 


4 


6 


4 


2 


2 


2 


2 


Weare 


4 


24 


23 




9 


11 


9 


3 


3 


1 


8 


Wilmot 


1 


8 


7 


1 


1 


5 


3 










Wilton 


2 


9 


9 


1 


1 


5 


5 


2 


2 


2 


o 


Windsor 




3 


2 


1 




2 


1 


1 








42 Towns, | 


60 399 |370 | 


92 1 


149 


256 


157 


58_ 


56 


35|851 



Besides the preceding mills, factories, &c. there are 2 paper mills, one 
at Warner, the other at Peterborough ; 11 cotton factories, 7 woollen 
factoiries ; 10 trip-hammers ; a number of distilleries and oil mills ; a 
starch manufactqry, which manufactures between 4000 and 5000 bushels 
of potatoes into the useful article of starch. — There is one printing es- 
tablishment at Amherst, which issues weekly more than 1000 papers. 
There are five incorporated academies in this county, three of which are 
in operation. That at New-tpswich is highly respectable, and has funds. 
Those at Francestown and Hillsborough have been in operation but a 
short time. Hillsborough has 42 townships, 34 post-offices, sends 44 
members to the General Court. The Superior Court and Court of Ses- 
sions are holden alternately at Amherst and Hopkinton. The first per- 
manent settlement of this county was made at Dunstable, then consider- 
ed as belonging to Massachusetts, a few years before the war with King 
Philip in 1675. It was constituted a county by an act of the General As- 



NEVV-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



senibly of the province, on the 19th of March, 1771. Its name is supposed 
ro be derived from Wills Hills, the Earl of Hillsborough, who was one 
of the privy council of George III., and whose residence was at Hills- 
borough, in the county of Down in Ireland. The population in 1775, 
was 15,986; in 1790, 32,871 ; in 1800, 43,899; in 1810, 49,249, and in 
1820, 53,884. The population to a square mile is 43.2. The number 
of persons engaged in agriculture, 13,197 ; in commerce, 238 ; and in 
manufactures, 2,400. 



CHESHIRE COUNTY. 

Cheshire, the western county in this state, extends from lat. 42'^ 43' to 
43° 36' N. Its length is 54 miles •, its greatest breadth 26 miles ; and its 
least breadth 15. It is bounded N. by the county of Grafton, E. by 
Hillsborough, S. by the state of Massachusetts and W. by Vermont. It 
contains 802,638 acres, or a little more than 1254 square miles. Through- 
out the whole extent on the west, this county is watered by the Connec- 
ticut, the western bank of which forms the boundary between New- 
HauDpshire and Vermont. Ashuelot and Sugar rivers are considerable 
streams, and are tributary to Connecticut river. The former has its 
source from a pond in Washington, and after receiving two branches in 
Keene and Swanzey, and several smaller streams in Winchester, emp- 
ties into Connecticut river at Hinsdale. Sugar river issues from the 
west side of Lake Sunapee ; passes through Newport and Claremont, 
where it unites with the Connecticut. Lake Sunapee and SpafFord's 
Lake are considerable collections of water. The former is in the N. E. 
part of the county, lying principally in Wendell. Spafford's Lake, of 
about eight miles in circumference, is situated in Chesterfield. There 
is a pleasant island in this lake containing about eight acres. The 
Grand Monadnock in Dublin and JafFrey is the highest mountain, its al- 
titude having been repeatedly found to be more than 3000 feet above the 
level of the sea. Croydon mountains in the townships of Croydon and 
Grantham, are the next most considerable elevations. Bellows Falls in 
Connecticut river, in Walpole, have been regarded as one of the great- 
est natural curiosities in this county. 

A variety of soil is found in this county. Much of it is very good, 
and particularly the intervals on Connecticut river. In nineteen towns, 
containing 371,243 acres and 22, 958 inhabitants, the agricultural prod- 
ucts in 1820, were 406,900 lbs. of butter, 660, 500 lbs, of cheese, 1,480,- 
F2 



58 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



500 lbs. of beef, 1,761,500 lbs. of pork, 110,200 lbs. 


of flax, 10,333 


barrels of cider, and 27 tons of pearl ashes 








STATISTICAL TABLE 










1 


r 


< 


en 
o 

i 


3 

f7= 


O 
5 
5" 


1 


as 

a. 




a' 

3 


TOT^IfS. 


^ 


^ 




™ 


• 


3 


5 

3^ 




3 


i' 




r 


1' 


o 






7" 


1" 


2^ 


3 


P^ 


l^ 




= 


o' 


i 


1 






1 


'.•^ 


o 

5' 




""2 


Acworth 


"2 


12 


12 





3 


5 


1 


~2 




"T 


Alstead 


3 


14 


14 


2 


3 


5 


3 


1 


2 




2 


Charlestown 


2 


11 


11 


6 


6 


6 


3 


1 


1 




4 


Chesterfield 


1 


14 


13 4 


5 


9 


3 


3 


2 


1 


3 


Claremont 


3 


15 


14 


7 


7 


6 


4 


4 


3 


2 


4 


Cornish 


3 


12 


12 


2 


3 


10 


5 


3 


3 






Croydon 


1 


8 


7 


1 


3 


2 


2 


2 






2 


Dublin 


2 


10 


10 


1 


3 


8 


7 


2 




1 


1 


Fitzwilliam 


1 


12 


12 


2 


2 


4 


2 


1 




1 


1 


Gilsum 


1 


5 


5 


1 




2 


2 


1 








Goshen 


1 


3 


3 


2 


1 


4 


1 


1 




1 




Grantham 




12 


12 


1 




3 


2 


1 








Hinsdale 


2 


6 


6 


4 


1 


4 


1 


1 






2 


Jafifrey 


1 


12 


12 


2 


4 


3 


3 


2 




2 


2 


Keene 


2 


12 


12 


6 


8 


9 


4 


2 






1 


Langdon 


1 


7 


6 


1 


2 


» 


1 


1 








Lempster 


1 


7 


7 


3 


2 


5 


3 


1 




1 


1 


Marlborough 


1 


6 


5 


3 


3 


4 


2 


3 




2 


2 


Marlow 


1 


6 


6 


2 


3 


4 


3 


1 




1 


2 


Nelson 


1 


8 


8 




1 


3 


4 


2 








Newport 


3 


14 


14 


4 


4 


9 


3 


3 




2 


2 


Plainfield 


2 


12 


12 


5 


5 


3 


2 


3 


3 


3 


3 


Richmond 


2 


12 


12 


2 


3 


4 


5 


1 


2 


1 


3 


Rindge 


1 


12 


12 


3 


3 


2 


2 


1 






3 


Roxbury 


1 


3 


3 






2 


1 










Springfield 


1 


13 


11 


1 


3 


5 


3 


1 




1 


1 


Stoddard 


1 


8 


8 


1 


2 


3 


3 








1 


Surry 


1 


4 


4 


3 


2 


2 


1 


1 


1 




1 


Sullivan 


1 


6 


6 


1 


1 


2 


2 










Swanzey 


2 


13 


13 


2 


3 


9 


4 


3 


3 




1 


Troy 


1 


7 


6 


1 


1 


3 


2 


1 


1 






Unity 


3 


12 


10 


2 




5 


3 


2 


1 


1 


1 


Walpole 


1 


13 


12 


6 


6 


3 


4 


3 


3 


2 


3 


Washington 


1 


8 


7 


2 


3 


6 


4 


1 


2 




1 


Wendell 




7 


5 


1 
1 


1 


4 


3 


2 


2 






Westmoreland 


3 


12 


13 


3 


6 


6 


q 


1 


1 


2 


Winchester 


2 15 13 


5 


5 


10 


^ 


i|.| 


' 


i 37 Towns, 


56|363 |347 


1 90 


|104 


|179 


jl08 |61|46|24 


m 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 59 

There are, besides the preceding, 5 cotton factories, several woollen 
factories, 5 oil mills, 1 paper mill, several distilleries and furnaces, and 
20 trip-hammers. There is one printing press at Keene, which issues a 
weekly paper, and has in connection with it a large bookselling establish- 
ment. There are five incorporated academies, of which Union Acade- 
my at Plainfield, has funds to the amount of 40,000 dollars. Several of 
them are in a flourishing condition. The number of persons engaged ia 
agriculture in 1820, was 7,968; in commerce, 82; in manufactures, 
1,620. Cheshire has 31 towns, 29 post-offices, sends 38 members to the 
General Court. The Superior Court and Court of Sessions are holden 
alternately at Keene and Charlestown. The earliest settlement in this 
county was made about the year 1682 at Hinsdale, then a part of North- 
field, and under the government of Massachusetts. The county was for- 
med March 19, 1771, and it probably received its name from Cheshire, 
one of the western counties in England. Population in 1775, 10,252; 
in 1790, 28,772; in 1800, 38,825 ; in 1810,40,988, and in 1820, 45,376. 
Population to the square mile, 36.2. 



GRAFTON COUNTY. 

Grafton county extends from lat. 43'^ 27' to 44° 22' N. It is 58 miles 
in length, and its greatest breadth is 30 miles. It contains 828,623 
acres, besides a large tract of ujagranled land. It is bounded N. by the 
county of Coos, E. by Strafford, S. by Hillsborough and W. by the 
state of Vermont, Grafton is watered by Connecticut river, on which 
are several pleasant and flourishing towns ; by Pemigewasset, Lower 
Amonoosuck rivers, and by many smaller streams which will be here- 
after noticed. Squam and Nfevvfound lakes are the largest collections 
of water. The former, of which a considerable part lies in Strafford 
county, has been much celebrated for its picturesque beauties. Its nu- 
merous angular projections, the variety of its islands covered with 
wood, and the vicinity of lofty mountains, render i>t an object peculiar- 
ly interesting. There are numerous elevations which come under the 
name of mountains. Those of the most importance are Gardner's in 
Lyman, Peaked in Bethlehem, Moosehiilock in Coventry, Cushman's 
and the Blue mount in Peeling, Carr's in Warren and Ellsworth, 
Moose in Hanover, Cardigan in Orange, and some others which will 
be described under the respective towns. 

The soil of this county is very much diversified. A large portion of 
it is mountainous and hilly, but this circumstance does not prevent its 



60 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



productiveness. It presents fine tracts for pasturage, a large proportion 
of arable land, and on the rivers, extensive and fertile intervals. 



STATISTICAL TABLE. 





§ 


O 


'^ 


^ 


c« 


C/2 
S3 


Q 




91? 


^ 


Towxs. 


1 


§ 


§ 




o 


3. 


p. 

5' 
3 


5 


2. 




5 
n' 




D- 




o 






F" 


~ 


s 




vi" 






O 




c 




















- 




en 












o 








S 
^ 


o' 


ffi 










ET 


ST 

I 






Alexandria 


1 


7 


6 


~ r 


1 


4 


2,f 


~T 






1 


Bath 


1 


11 


10 


2 


7 


7 


3 


2 


3 


1 


2 


Bethlehem 


2 


5 


4 


2 


2 


1 


1 




1 






Bridgewater 


2 


9 


7 






6 


2 


1 


1 




1 


Bristol 


1 


8 


7 


1 


2 


3 


2 


1 


1 


1 


4 


Campton 


1 


10 


9 




1 


5 


3 


2 


1 


1 


1 


Canaan 


1 


14 


12 


4 


2 


6 


4 


2 


2 




2 


Concord 


2 


8 


7 


3 


2 


5 


2 


1 


1 


1 


1 


Coventry 




3 


3 


1 






1 










Danbury 




7 


4 


2 




2 


2 


1 








Dorchester 


1 


8 


6 


2 


1 


4 


2 


1 


1 






Ellsworth 




2 


2 






1 


1 










Enfield 


2 


12 


12 


2 


5 


7 


4 


2 


2 


4 


4 


Franconia 




3 


3 


3 


1 


2 


1 










Grafton 


2 


10 


7 


4 


1 


5 


7 


1 


1 


1 


1 


Groton 


1 


9 


6 


2 


1 


4 


3 


1 


1 


1 


1 


Hanover 


3 


12 


12 


4 


7 


5 


1 


2 


1 


3 




Haverhill 


2 


9 


9 


5 


9 


12 


4 


1 


1 


2 


1 


Hebron 


1 


7 


7 


2 


2 


2 


1 


1 




1 


1 


Holderness 


2 


12 


6 




1 


5 


3 


1 


2 


1 


2 


Landaff 


1 


6 


6 


1 


2 


3 


1 










Lebanon 


1 


16 


16 


9 


6 


' 7 


4 


6 


6 


1 


3 


Lime 


2 


14 


12 


9 


4 


11 


4 


3 


2 


2 




Lincoln 
























Littleton 


1 


11 


8 


4 


2 


4 


2 


2 


2 




1 


Lyman 


3 


7 


7 


1 


1 


5 


3 




1 


1 


2 


New Chester 


2 


14 


10 


2 


3 


5 


2 




2 


1 


1 


Orange 




3 


2 


1 
















Orford 


3 


12 


10 


3 


3 


7 


2 


2 


2 


2 


2 


Peeling 




3 


3 


2 




2 


3 




1 




1 


Piermont 


1 


8 


8 


2 


2 


3 


3 




1 




Plymouth 


1 


9 


8 


1 


5 


5 


2 






1 


3 


Rumney 


1 


11 


7 


5 


5 


5 


2 








3 


Thornton 


2 


10 


8 


3 


1 


3 


3 




1 


1 


2 


Warren 


1 


7 


7 


2 


1 


2 


1 




1 


1 


2 


WentV'orth 


1 


6 


6 


2 


4 


6 


4 


3 


3 


1 


1 


j 36 Towns, 


45 


306 


257 


87 


Ts" 


154 


86 1 


a 


4r[28| 


43 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 61 

There are in this county 2 cotton factories, 2 paper mills, 3 oil mills, 
2 distilleries and six trip-hammers. There are two printing establish- 
ments, one at Haverhill, the other at Enfield. From the former issues 
a weekly paper ; from the other a religious magazine, devoted to the 
dissemination of Freewill Baptist sentiments. In this county, are two 
incorporated academies. Holmes Plymouth Academy and Haverhill 
Academy. It contains 36 townships, 26 post-offices, sends 30 represen- 
tatives, and with the county of Coos, two senators to the General Court. 
The number of persons engaged in agriculture in 1820, was 8,653 ; in 
manufactures, 1,097 i and in commerce, 118. The number of rateable 
polls that year was 5764 ; the valuation $126 11. The sessions of the 
Superior Court and of the Court of Sessions 'are held alternately at 
Haverhill and Plymouth. The first settlement in this county was made 
at Lebanon, and this was the first settlement on Connecticut river north 
of Charlestown. It was constituted a county, March 19, 1771, and re- 
ceived its name in honor of Augustus Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Grafton. 
Population in 1775, 3597 ; in 1790, 12,449 ; in 1300, 20,171 ; in 1810, 
!28,462 ; and in 1820, 32,989. Population to a square mile, 25.7. 



COOS COUNTY. 

Coos is the largest county in the state, and within its limits are situ- 
ated the greater part of the ungranted lands — most of which, being very 
mountainous, cannot be cultivated, and will probably never be settled. 
This county extends from latitude 43° 58' to the extreme north part of 
the state— being 76 miles in length, and having a mean width of about 
20 miles. The area of this county is estimated to contain IGOO square 
miles, or, in round numbers, 1,000,000 of acres. It is bounded N. by 
Lower Canada, E. by Maine, S. by the county of Strafford, W. by 
Grafton county and the state of Vermont. Besides the stupendous 
pile of the White Mountains, which distinguishes this county, there are 
several other mountains of no incoiisiderable height. Those in Shel- 
burne, Adams and Chatham, on the east of the White Mountains, are 
bold and abrupt. The Peaks and Bowback mountains in Stratford ; 
the elevations in Disville, Columbia and Kilkenny •, Pilot and Mill 
mountains in Piercy •, Cape Horn in Northumberland, and Pcndcherr;% 
S. W. of Jefferson, are all of considerable magnitude, and partake of 
the grandeur of the White Hills. A particular account of these won- 
ders of nature will be given under their appropriate heads. In the 



€2 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



neighborhood of high mountains are generally found the sources of our 
greater rivers. Three of the principal rivers of New-England, the 
Connecticut, Ameriscoggin and Saco, take their rise in this county. 
There are numerous other streams which become tributary to these riv- 
ers, the principal of which are the Mohawk, Amonoosuck, Israel's and 
John's rivers. The Margallaway, after receiving the waters of Dead 
and Diamond rivers, unites with the Ameriscoggin, near Umbagog lake. 
This lake lies principally in Maine. Lake Connecticut is situated N. 
of the 450 of latitude, and is a source of the Connecticut river. The 
largest pond in this county lies N. of Lake Connecticut, and is con- 
nected with it by an outlet. There are several small ponds, which will 
be noticed under the towns where they are situated. A great portion of 
this county yet lies uncultivated, and large tracts will probably never be 
settled. If the husbandman cannot behold wide-spreading cultivated 
hills and extensive plains — the lover of nature may here behold her 
seated in gorgeous splendor and beauty. There are, however, exten- 
sive tracts of fine interval and upland, and the soil in the vale of the 
Connecticut is very rich and fruitful. Persons engaged in agriculture in 
1820, 1,760 ; manufactures, 71 ; commerce, 12. 

STATISTICAL TABLE. 



Towns. 


CO 

1 


1 


i 






i 


1 


Q 

i 

5 

s. 



5' 

CfP 


n 

Q. 

5' 


5 


s 




s 


c 


c 








?^ 


|;g 


v^ 


CO 








ft 





















en 















c« 


2". 






Adams 


~T 


~6~ 


5 






1 


2 










Bartlett 




4 


4 


2' 


2 


3 


1 










Bretton- Woods 
























Cambridge 
























Chatham 


1 


3 


3 






1 


3 


1 


1 






Columbia 




6 


2 




1 


2 


2 








1 


Colebrook 




6 


2 


1 


2 


4 


2 


1 


1 




2 


College Grant 
























Dixville 
























Diimmer 
























Dahon 




2 


2 


2 


1 


2 


2 


1 


1 






Durand * 
























Erroll 
























Hale's Location 
























Hart's Location 
























JeiFerson 




2 


2 


1 




1 












Kilkenny 

























NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



63 



Towns. 


1 


in 




i 




% 
1 




o 
1" 


B. 
1 


1 






o 


2i 


c 






S" 


ET 


5 




5" 


s^ 




i 




m 












rt 

5' 












































. 






Lancaster 


1 


8 


4 


1 


4 


2 


4 


9 


3 






Maynesborough 
























Millsfield 
























Northumberland 


1 


3 


3 






1 


1 


1 


1 






Nash & Sawyer's Loc. 
























Paulsburgh 
























Public Lands 
























Piercy 












1 


1' 










Stratford 


1 


5 


5 


2 
















Shelburne 








2 




1 













Stewartstown 




5 


4 


















Success 
























Warner's Patent 






















Whitefield 




3 


3 






2 


1 






Winslow's Location 
















1 


1 


1 25 Towns, 


± 


47 


34 


11 


^0 


21 


20 


6| 7| 1 3j 



There is a woollen factory at Colebrook, 2 distilleries at Adams and 
2 at Colebrook. Lancaster is the principal town in the county, and 
there the courts are holden. The first settlement was made in 1763 at 
Lancaster. The county was formed by an act of the legislature Dec. 
24, 1803. Coos* is the Indian name applied to the Connecticut in the 
vicinity of Lancaster, and was adopted as the name of the county. The 
population in 1775, was 227 ; in 1790,882; in 1800,2658; in 1810, 
3991 ; and in 1820, 5,549. Population to a square mile, 3.4. 



•This wovd signifies crooked, and was pronounced by the Indians as if con= 
taining but one syllable. 



64 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Counties. 
Rocl<ingham, 
Strcilford, 
Hillsborough, 
Chesliire, 
Grafton, 
Coos, 



COMPARATIVE VIEWS, 

(A,) 

Area in acres. Towns. P. 0. Repr. 

661,646 45 31 48 

861,171 32 31 36 

796,800 42 34 44 

802,638 37 29 38 

828,623 36 26 30 



Settled. Incorp. 
1623 1771 
1623 1771 
1675 1771 
1682 1771 
1771 



1,000,000 



25 



1763 



1803 





(B.) 
Population. 

In 1775. In 1820. Increase. 
37,463 55,246 17,783 
12,513 51,117 38,604 
15,986 53,884 37,898 
10,252 45,376 35,124 
3,597 32,989 29,392 


Persons 


! engaged in 


Counties. 
Rockingham, 
Strafford, 
Hillsborough, 
Cheshire, 
Grafton, 


Agricul. 

10,522 

10,284. 

, 13,197 

7,968 

8,653 


Comm. 

609 

9 

238 

82 

118 


Manuf. 
1,973 

1,538 
2,400 
1,620 
1,097 



Coos, 



227 5,549 5,322 



1,760 



12 



(C.) 



Factories. 



Mills. 



Counties. 


Cotton. 


Woollen. 


Paper. 


Oil. 


Cloth. Card.mac. 


Rockingham, 

Strafford, 

Hillsborough 

Cheshire, 

Grafton, 

Coos, 


5 

8 

11 

5 

2 


3 

7 

7 

1 


6 

1 
2 
1 
2 


4 
8 

5 
3 


47 48 

57 56 

61 46 

42 41 

6 ' 7 



TOPOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL. 

AND OF ALL THE MOUNTAINS, LAKES, PONDS, RIVERS, ETC. 

ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY. 



A. 



AcwoRTH, a post township in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 43° 13' N 
is bounded N. by Unity, E. by 
Lempster, S. by Marlow and Al- 
stead, and W. by Langdon and 
Charlestovvn. It contains an area 
of 24,846 acres. It is 50 miles 
from Concord, 87 from Portsmouth, 
and 93 from Boston. Cold river, 
affording a number of good mill 
seats, is the only stream of any note. 
It rises from Cold pond in the N. 
E. part of the town, which ex- 
tends nearly a mile on the line be- 
tween Acworth and Unity. This 
pond is from 60 to 100 rods in 
width. Mitchell's pond is about 
120 rods in length and 80 rods in 
width. This town is chiefly agri- 
cultural in its pursuits, having fey. 
advantages for manufacturing, ex- 
cepting such articles as are need- 
ed for its own consumption. The 
agricultural products in 1820 were, 
26,000 lbs. of butter, 40,000 lbs. of 
cheese, 120,000 lbs. of beef, 100 
000 lbs. of pork, 15,000 lbs. of 
flax, 700 barrels of cider and 8 
tons of pearl ashes. The soil is 
generally good. Few towns are 
more distinguished for raising flax... 
The soil seems peculiarly adapted 



*As tlie whole Stale of New-Harap- 
shire is situated in North latitude, the 
repeti'iou of this Initial will be omit- 
ted. 



to the raising this article, which is 
'.vrought by some of the inhabi- 
tants into the finest of linen, equal 
to any imported from Colerain in 
Ireland. Beef is, periiaps, the sta- 
ple commodity. Charlestown turn- 
pike passes through nearly the cen- 
tre of this place. This town was 
granted Sept. 19, 1766, to Col. Sam- 
son Stoddard and 64 others. It 
was settled in 1768 by William 
Keyes, Samuel Harper and John 
Rogers, with their families. The 
settlement increased but slowly. 
and it was not until 1771, that there 
was a sufficient number of inhabi- 
tants to require the usual civil reg- 
ulations of a town. In 1772, it 
contained 14 houses. A congre- 
gational church, consisting of 18 
members, was organized March 12, 
1773. The first minister was Rev. 
Thomas Archibald, who was set- 
tled Nov. 11, 1789 ; and dismissed 
June 14, 1794. Rev. John Kim- 
ball succeeded, and was ordained 
in June, 1797: dismissed May 4, 
1813. Rev, Phinehas Cooke was 
ordained in September, 1814. A 
baptist church was formed Nov. 9, 
1809 ; but has no settled minister. 
The spotted fever appeared in this 
town Feb. 23, 1812, and from that 
time to May 13, there occurred 58 
deaths, of which 53 were by the fe- 
ver. Population in 1820, 1479. 



66 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Adams, a town in Coos county, 
situated on the E. side of the "White 
Mountains, in lat. 44° 9', is boun- 
ded E. by Cliatham, N. by un- 
located lands. S. by Bartlett, and 
contains 31,968 acres of land and 
water. The surface of the town 
is uneven, and in some parts rocky ; 
but the soil is rich and productive. 
It is watered principally by the 
two branches of Ellis's river, pas- 
sing from the N. and unitii^ on 
the S. border near Spruce moun- 
tain. The principal elevations are 
called Black, Baldface and Thorn 
mountains. Benjamin Copp was 
the first settler : he moved into 
Adams in 1779, and with his fami- 
ly buffeted tiie terrors of the wil- 
derness 14 years, before any other 
person settled there. The town 
was incorporated Dec. 4, 1800. A 
free-will baptist church was form- 
ed here in 1803; Daniel Elkins 
settled as their pastor in 1809; and 
their present number consists of 
about 50. Population 363. 

Alexandria, a township in 
Grafton county, in lat. 43° 36', is 
bounded N. by Orange and Hebron, 
E. by Bristol, S. by New-Chester, 
and W. by Danbury, containing 
about 20,800 acres. Its N. E. cor- 
ner extends to Hebron line and in- 
cludes a part of Newfound lake. It 
is 9 miles from Bristol village, 30 
miles from Concord and 72 from 
Portsmouth. Alexandria is water- 
ed by Smith's river, passing through 
the S. part, and by Fowler's river, 
through the N. part of the town. 
On these rivers and several other 
smaller streams, ure about 2000 
acres of interval land, of which 
the natural growth is hemlock, 
pine, maple, butteror.t and elm. The 
soil of t!ir interval is excelle it for 
proJuciiig flax, potatoes and grass. 
In other pavs of the town, i; is 
favorable for wheat and maize. 



The swells of land are generally 
moist. The highest and mountain- 
ous parts abound in ledges. This 
town was granted March 13, 1767, 
to Joseph Butterfield, jun. and oth- 
ers. It was incorporated Nov. 23, 
1782. Its first settlement was made 
in Dec. 1769, by Jonathan Corliss, 
John M. Corliss and William Cor- 
liss. In Feb. 1821, its territorial 
limits were lessened by annexing a 
considerable tract to New-Chester 
according to an act of the legisla- 
ture, passed Dec. 21, 1820. A con- 
gregational church was formed 
about the year 1788, and Rev, 
Enoch Whipple was settled in Ju- 
ly, the sarfie year. He was dismis- 
sed ia 1794. There are three re- 
ligious societies in this town, no 
one of which has a settled minis' 
ter. Population in 1820, 707. 

Allenstown, a township in 
Rockingham county, is in lat. 43° 
8', bounded W. by the river Sun- 
cook, N. by Epsom, E. by Deer- 
field, and S. by Hooksett ; distast 
from Concord, 11 miles, from Bos- 
ton, 58, from Portsmouth, 38. It 
contains about 12,225 acres of land, 
generally of an ordinary quality, 
though there are some fine farms. 
The town is principally covered 
with a growth of oak and pine tim- 
ber ; and great quantities of lum- 
ber are annually taken down the 
river to Boston, &c. AUenstown 
s well watered, though no large 
stream passes through it. Great 
Bear brook furnishes the principal 
mill-seats. Catamount hill is the 
highest land in town. On this hill 
are found large quantities of fine 
ranite, which is used in building. 
At the E. end of this iiill is a pre- 
cipice of 70 feet nearly perpendicu- 
lar, at the foot of which is a cavern 
rp" some extent, inclining upwards. 
The first settlers of the tract called 
Miens-Town (after the name of the 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



67 



purchaser of Mason's claim) were 
John Wolcutt, Aiulrew Smith, Dan 
iel Evans, Robert Buntin and otli- 
ers. In 1748, while at work on the 
western bank of the Merrimack riv 
er, opposite the mouth of the Sun- 
cook, in company with James Carr. 
Mr. Buntin and his son, ten years 
of age, were surprised by a party of 
Indians. Carr attempted to escape 
and was shot down. Buntin and 
his son, making no resistance, were 
not harmed ; but taken through the 
wilderness to Canada, and sold to a 
French trader at Montreal — with 
whom they remained about eleven 
months, escaped, and fortunately 
reached home in safety. Andrew, 
the son, continued on his father's 
farm until the commencement of 
the revolution, when, entering the 
service of his country, ire died in 
her defence at White-Plains, Oct, 
23, 1776. There is no settled min- 
ister in AUenstown ; their meeting 
iiouse is open to all religious sects, 
and they occasionally have preach- 
ing. There is also a town-house. 
Population, 433. 

AlsI-ead, a post township in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 43° 6', is 
bounded N. by Acworth and Lang- 
don, E. by Marlow, S. by Gilsum 
and Surry, and W. by Walpole and 
Langdon. It is 12 miles S. E. from 
Charlestown, 14 N. from Keene, 
and 50 W. from Concord. It con- 
tains 24,756 acres. This town is 
well watered by small streams. 
Cold river passes through the N. 
W. part •■, and some of the branch- 
es of Ashuelot river have tlieir 
sources in this town. There are a 
number of ponds, the principal of 
which is Warren's pond •, — length 
250 rods, breadth 150. Perch and 
pickerel are here caught in great 
abrndance. The soil is strong and 
productive, and tiie farms general- 
ly well cultivated. There are two 



meeting-houses and an academy in 
the centre of the town, and one 
meeting-house in the east parish. 
The academy was incorporated Ju- 
ly 1, 1820. It has no funds, but 
the patronage and encouragement 
it has received are flattering, and 
induce a hope that it may continue 
to be useful, and to deserve public 
favor. There are 14 school districts, 
in which schools are kept about 
half the year, and sometimes more. 
Four persons from this town have 
received a public education. There 
are two libraries, one incorporated 
in 1798, containing 127 volumes; 
the other in 1804, having 121 vol- 
umes. Besides the mills, &c. in 
the statistical table under Cheshire 
county, there is one paper mill, 
one gun factory, and a large estab- 
lishment for the manufacture of 
boots and shoes, in which from 10 
to 15 workmen are constantly em- 
ployed. The sales for the last 9 
years, have amounted to ^6000 an- 
nually. Alstead was originally 
called Newton, and was granted by 
charter, August 6, 1763, to Samuel 
Chase and 69 other proprietors. In 
1771, there were 25 families, be- 
sides 10 single men that were cul- 
tivating their lands, and 9 others 
who partially resided there. The 
first congregational church was 
gathered in 1777. Rev. Jacob 
Mann was ordained in Fel), 1782; 
dismissed in May, 1789. Rev. 
Samuel Mead was ordained June 
15, 1791 ; dismissed April 28, 1797. 
Rev. Seih S. Arnold was ordained 
Jan. 17, 1817. To this chuBch and 
society, was left in 1817, by Mrs. 
Shepard, widow of Gen. Shepard, 
a legacy of $1000 ; and, in 1819, 
by" Major Samuel Hutchinson, a 
legacy of S^^OO, the interest of 
which sums is to be appropriated 
towards the support of an ordained 
minister of the copgregatjonal or= 



68 



NEW-HAMPSMIRE GAZETTEER. 



der, in said society, forever, provi- 
ded there shall be such a minister so 
ordained ; otherwise for tlie benefit 
of the school in the district of the 
old meeting-house. The second 
congregational church was formed 
in the east parish, Nov. 20, 1788. 
Rev. Levi Lankton was ordained 
Sept. 3, 1789. The baptist church 
was formed Dec. 18, 1790, and 
Rev. Jeremiah Higbee was ordain- 
ed May 28, 1794. There liave 
been special attentions to religion 
in these churches in 1788, 1798, 
1808, 1815 and 1819. There is a 
jimall universalist society formed 
in May, 1820, of citizens in this 
town and its vicinity. The aver- 
age number of deaths for 15 years 
past, excepting 1812 and 1814, has 
been about 20. In those years, the 
spotted fever prevailed and swept 
off 90 persons. General Amos 
ShepArd, who was for many 
years a member of the General 
Court of tliis state, and President 
of the Senate 7 years, from 1797 
to 1304, resided in this town, and 
was one of its principal inhabitaats 
from 1777 to the time of his death, 
.Tan. 1, 1812. By his persevering 
industry, his economy and correct 
ness in business, an-d at the same 
tim.e, by a rigid adherence to up 
vightness and integrity in his deal 
ings with his fellow men, he ac- 
quired a handsome fortune, and 
was in many things, a pattern wor- 
thy of imitation. Population 1611. 
Alton, post township, Strafford 
county, in lat. 43° 28', 22 miles 
from Concord, and 25 from Dover, 
is bounded N. by Winnepisiogee 
lake and bay, N. E. by Wolfebor- 
ough, E. by New-Durham, S. by 
Barnstead, W. by Gilraanton and 
Gilford ; and has an area of 23,843 
acres. The town is rough and un- 
even ; the soil hard and rocky, but 
productive when well cultivated. 



The growth of wood is chiefly oak, 
beech, maple and pine. The prin- 
cipal elevation is called Mount- 
Major. There is also a large swell 
of land called Prospect-Hill, afford- 
ng fine grazing almost to its sum- 
mit, from which in a clear sky the 
ocean is visible. Merrymeeting 
bay extends S. about 1800 rods in- 
to this town, where it receives the 
waters of Merrymeeting river. 
Half-moon pond, between Alto» 
nd Barnstead, is 300 rods long 
and 150 wide. This town was 
originally called JVe^o- Durham 
Gore — was owned by the Masoni- 
an proprietors — settled in 1770, by 
Jacob Chamberlain and others. It 
was incorporated Jan. 15, 1796, 
and named by one of the proprie- 
tors after Alton, a market-town, in 
Southamptonshire, Eng. A free- 
will baptist church was formed 
here in 1805 ; and Elder John 
Pag-e ordained in 1811. Pop. 2058. 
Ameriscoggin, or Andros- 
coggin, river, has its sources N. of 
lat. 45°, and enters this state near 
the S. E, corner of the second 
grant to Dartmouth College. Its 
most northerly branch is the Mar- 
gallaway river which receives the 
waters of Dead and Diamond riv- 
ers, and unites with those flowing 
from Umbagog lake, about a mile 
distant from its outlet. From this 
junction, the confluent stream pur- 
sues a southerly course till it ap- 
proaches near the White Moun- 
tains, where it receives several 
considerable tributaries, and passes 
into INIaine N. of Mount Moriah. 
It there bends to the E. and S. E. ; 
in which course, through a fertile 
country it passes near the sea-coast, 
and turning N. runs over the falls 
at Brunswick, a few miles from 
Bowdoin College, into Merrymeet- 
ing Bay, forming a junction with*the 
Kennebeck, 20 miles from the sea. 



NEW HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



69 



Amherst, a post township and| 
one of the seats of justice in Hills- j 
borough county, is situated on Sou- 1 
hegan river, in lat. 42° 5V ; boun-| 
i]ed N. b}"- New-Boston and Bed-! 
ford, E. by Bedford and Merri-! 
mack, S. by Hollis, and W. by Mil-j 
ford and Mont-Vernon, It contains 
by the survey made in 1805, an 
area of 22,435 acres. It is 281 
miles from Concord, about the same j 
distance from Hopkinton, 47 from] 
Boston, 40 from Keene, 60 fronij 
Windsor, and 485 from the city of 
Washington. Tliis town is water- 
ed by Soahegan river, of which 
the most considerable branch orig- 
inates in Ashburnham, Ms. It is 
a considerable and very important 
stream, and in its course to the 
Merrimack river from this town, 
affords some of the finest water 
privileges in the county. It has 
two bridges over it in Amherst, and 
one at Mil ford near the line be- 
tween these towns. Babboosuck, 
Little Babboosuck and Jo English 
ponds are the largest collections of 
water. Tlie first, 1 1-2 mile in 
length, and of various breadth, lies 
in the N. E. part ^f this town and 
in Merrimack. From its N. E. ex- 
tremit}'- issues Babboosuck brook, 
•which takes a N. E. course towards 
the town of Merrimack. Little 
Babboosuck is W. from the other 
and connected with it. Jo English 
pond is in the N. part of the town 
and in New-Boston. A stream issues j 
from it which runs into the Bab- 
boosuck. Stearns' pond is in the 
south part of the town. The soil 
is rather unequal. In some parts, 
and particularly on Souhegan riv-' 
er, it is of an excellent quality, 
producing abundant crops. In oth- 
er parts, on the hills elevated j 
above the village, the soil is of ai 
good quality, and several valuable j 
farms are found under good culti-! 



vation. There is a pleasant vil- 
lage, containing a meeting house, 
court house, jail, school house, iv«o 
taverns, five stores and 58 dwel- 
ling houses. The public buildings, 
and 42 of the dwelling liouses are sit- 
uated on a plain, extending about 1-2 
mile N. and S. and the same distance 
E. and W. There is a spacious com- 
mon betv/een the two principal 
rows of houses, which is often used 
for public purposes. S. \V. of the 
turnpike road leading from the vil- 
lage to Mont-Vernon, are valuable 
meadows. On Souhegan river, is 
a considerable portion of good in- 
terval. This town affords no cu- 
riosities. No minerals of conse- 
quence have been found except 
iron ore, which more than forty 
years since, was wrought to some 
advantage. There is what is term- 
ed a mineral spring, about 1 1-2 
miles E. of the meetinghouse. The 
water has been found useful in 
rheumatic complaints, and in scrof- 
ulous and scorbutic habits ; for 
poisons by ivy, dog-wood, &c. The 
geological character of the town 
has been represented to us as fol- 
lows : The compact part is situa- 
ted on an alluvion. Tl)is deposi- 
tion consists principally of sili- 
cious sand, which occurs in many 
places of a beautiful greyish white 
color. This variety resembles 
very much that formed on the sea 
shore, and is used for the same do- 
mestic purposes. Argill enters in- 
to the composition of the soil, but 
the proportion is too small to give 
it much firmness. Water filters 
through it very soon, and conse- 
quently it is generally very dry. 
Large rolled masses of granite, 
quartz and sometimes greenstone 
are scattered over the surface of 
this deposition, and in some places 
so abundant as to resemble ai^ ill 



payred street. The surroundi 



H 



70 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



hills are primitive. They are com- 
posed of granite and quartz. Their 
ascent is generally easy, but in 
some places present mural preci- 
pices. A printing press, the first 
in the county, was established here 
aboiit i795, by Nathaniel Coverly. 
A weekly newspapt;r, called ti'.e 
" Amherst Jo\irnal and New-Hamp- 
shire Advertiser," commenceu Jan. 
16, 1795, anfl discontinued in Jan- 
uary the next year. The " Village 
Messenger" commenced Jan. 6,' 
1796 ; discontinued Dec. 5, 1801. 
The "Fariiser's Cabinet" succeeded 
Nov. 11, 1802, and is still continu- 
ed. The "Hillsborough Tele- 
graph" commenced Jan. 1. 1820 ; 
discontinued July 13, 1822. There 
i? a social library, incorporated 
June 20, 1797, having a small col- 
lection of Vwoks. The Aurean 
Academy, instituted here in 1790, 
and incorporated Feb. 17, 1791, 
flourished about ten years. There 
is a public school generally every 
year. The aggregate number of 
scholars who have attended since 
1807, is about 500. In the winter 
of 1817-18, there were instructed 
in the several district schools, 527 
pupils, of whom 105 were taught 
arithmetic, and 86 the elements of 
English grammar. The number 
of deaths from Jan. 1, 1805, for 
the ensuing 15 years, was 343, of 
which the aggregate amount of 
ages was 10,512, and the mean 
average age, 30 years. Nearly 
one half lived to the age of 25 
years or upwards, and a sixth part 
to 70 or more years. Two persons 
have lived beyond one hundred 
years. This town was granted in 
1733, by Massachusetts, to those 
persons living and the heirs of 
those not living, who were officer? 
and soldiers in the Narraganset 
war of 1675. It was called JVar 
ragansct JVb. 3, and afterwards 



Souhegan-West. The number of 
proprietors was 120, of whom a 
considerable number belonged to 
Salem, Mass. The first meeting 
of the grantees was holden at Dan- 
vers, July 17, 1734. The first set- 
tlement commenced about the same 
time by Samuel Walton and Sam- 
uel Lampson. Others from the 
county of Essex soon followed, 
and in 1741, the settlement con- 
tained fourteen families. In 1736, 
he first bridge was built ; in 1739, 
the first meetinghouse was erected. 
The town was incorporated Jan. 
18, 1760, when it assumed the 
name of Amherst in compliment 
to Lord Jeff'rey Amherst, an En- 
glish nobleman, and a general of 
the British forces in America in 
the French war. In 1770, part of 
Monson, a town N. of HoUis, was 
annexed to Amherst. In 1771, 
Amherst was selected for the shire 
town of the county of Hillsbor- 
ough. Mllford, in 1794, and Mont- 
Vernon, in 1803, were separated 
from this town. A congregatiojial 
church was formed Sept. 22, 1741, 
and on the next day. Rev. Daniel 
Wilkins, who graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1736, was ordain- 
ed. He died Feb. 11, 1784, aged 
73. Rev. Jeremiah Barnard, who 
graduated at Harvard College in 
1773, was ordained as colleague 
with Mr. Wilkins, March 3, 1780. 
Piev. JVathan Lord, who graduated 
at Bowdoin College in 1809, was 
ordained as colleague with Mr. 
Barnard, May 22, 1816. For a 
period of more than 80 years, the 
church has never been vacant. 
Among the worthy citizens of Am- 
herst who deserve remembrance, 
may be mentioned Hon. Moses 
Nichols, who was a colonel under 
Gen. Stark in the battle of Ben- 
nington ; who, after the revolution- 
ary war, was a general of the mi- 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



71 



litia, one of the counsellors under 
the new constitution, and the reg- 
ister of deeds till his death, Mav 
23, 1790, at the age of 50. HV 
was also eminent as a ph3'^sician. 
Hon. Samuel Dana, a native oi 
Brighton, Ms., a graduate of Har- 
vard College in the same class witii 
the venerable patriot John Adams, 
and the minister of Groton, Ms. 
from June 3, 1761, to 1775, resided 
in this town, the last eighteen years 
of his life. Here he filled the of- 
fice of judge of probate several 
years ; was a senator in the gener- 
al court, and sustained a high rep- 
utation as an eminent lawyer. Ht^^ 
died in April, 1798, aged 58. Hon. 
William Gor.don, who gradua- 
ted at Harvard College in 1779, at 
the age of 16, was eminent in the 
profession of the law. He was 
elected a senator in the legislature 
in 1794, a representative to con 
gress in 1796, and succeeded the 
Hon. Joshua At' 5rton as attorney 
general in 1801. He was also 
register of probate several years. 
He died May 8, 1802, at the age of 
39. Hon. Robert Meaks, vvhc 
died Jan. 24, 1823, at the age of 
80, was for a long period of time a 
resident in Amherst. He was a 
native of Stewartstown, in the 
county of Tyrone, in Ulster, Ire- 
land, where he was born Aug. 28, 
1742., In 1764, he came to this 
country, where by his industry and 
application to business, he acquir- 
ed a large property. In the years 
1783, 1784 and 1789, he was elec- 
ted a representative to the general 
court from Amherst, in which place 
he settled prior to the revolution. 
Three years he was a member of 
the senate, and in 1786, he filled 
the office of counsellor for Hills- 
borough county. Pop. 1622. 

Amonoosuck, the name of two 
rivers, the lesser called Upper, an 



the other Great or Lower. The 
Upper Amonoosuck lises in the un- 
granted lands north of the White 
Mountains, and passing N. E. into 
Duinmer, a})proaches to within a 
*ew miles of the Ameriscoggin ; 
thence turning abruptly to the S. 
W. it pursues tliat direction nearly 
through Piercy, and falls into Con- 
necticut river near the centre of 
Northumberland. Its whole length 
is about 50 miles. The valley of 
the Upper Amonoosuck is 7 or 8 
miles in breadth, and more than 20 
in length: it is scooped out with 
great beauty, tiie surface gently ris- 
ing to the summits of the moun- 
tains on the N. The Lower Am- 
onoosuck rises on the W. side of 
the White Mountains, and after 
running a course of 50 miles, falls 
into the Connecticut just above Ha- 
verhill, by a mouth 100 yards wide. 
At the distance of two miles from 
its mouth, it receives the Wild Am- 
onoosuck, a stream 40 yards wide, 
and when raised by freshes, very 
swift and furious in its course. 
The waters of the Amonoosuck 
are pure, and its bed clean ; the 
current lively, and in some places 
rapid. The valley of the Lower 
Amonoosuck is about half a mile 
in width, and was probably (Snce 
the bed of a lake, its S. W. limit 
being the rise of ground at its foot, 
over which the waters descended 
in their course to the Connecticut. 
There is a fine fall in this river about 
6 12 miles from the Notch of the 
White Mountains, where the de- 
scent is 50 feet, cut through a mass 
of stratified granite. 

Amoskeag Falls, in Merri- 
mack river, are 7 miles below the 
falls at Hooksett. They consist 
of three pitclies, one below the oth- 
er ; and within the distance of half 
a mile, the water falls between 40 
and 50 feet. The vicinity of these 



72 



NEW-IL4xMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



falls was much frequented by the 
Indians. The sachem Wonolanset 
resided here. The tribe under him 
was sometimes molested by the 
Mohawks, who carried terror to 
the hearts of all the eastern In- 
dians. In time of war between 
these hostile tribes, the Indians liv- 
ing in the neighborhood of the falls, 
concealed their provisions in the 
large cavities of the rocks on the 
island in the middle of the upper 
part of the fall. They entertained 
an idea that their deity had cat out 
these cavities for that purpose. 
See Manchester. 

Andover, post-town, Hillsbor- 
ough county, is in lat. 43° 27', and 
is bounded N. by New-Chester, E. 
by the Pemigewasset, separating 
the town from Sanbornton, S. by 
Salisbury, and W. by Wilmot — 
containing 29,883 acres, or nearly 
46 square miles. The Pemigewas- 
set, on its eastern boundary, and 
the Blackwater in the S. W. part 
of the town, are the principal 
streams; but numerous rills and 
, brooks find their way down the 
hills into the ponds or the two riv- 
ers. There are six ponds in An- 
dover, the largest of which are 
Chance and Loon ponds, both pic- 
tufesque, and their waters pure. 
The surface of this town is ex- 
tremely uneven, and in some parts 
rocky and barren. The Ragged 
Mountains pass along the N., divi- 
ding the town from New-Chester; 
and the Kearsarge extends its base 
along the W. The soil is in ma- 
ny parts of good quality, and pleas- 
ant villages are formed in different 
parts of the town. The 4th N. H. 
turnpike passes over the N. W. 
part of Andover. This town was 
granted in 1746, by the Masonian 
proprietors, to Edmund Brown an(4 
59 others ; and was called JK^erc- 
Breton, in honor of the captors of 



Cape-Breton in 1745 — in which ex- 
pedition several of the grantees 
were engaged. It retained this 
name until June 25, 1779, when it 
was incorporated bj' its present 
name. The first inhabitant of An- 
dover was Joseph Fellows, who 
moved into the place in 1761 : he 
died March 14, 1811, aged 84. The 
progress of the settlement was 
slow ; and though a meeting house 
had been previously erected, no 
church was organized until 1782. 
On the 30th Oct. this year a con- 
gregational church was formed, and 
Rev. Josiah Badcock, of Milton, 
Ms. ordained ; he continued to 
preach until 1809, when he resign- 
ed his charge. There are now two 
societies of freewill baptists, who 
are ministered to by Elders Peter 
Young and JVehemiah Sleeper. A 
society of universalists was incor- 
porated in 1813. Among the de- 
ceased citizens who are remember- 
ed with respect by the inhabitants, 
we may mention Dr. Silas Bar- 
nard, the first physician in town, 
a native of Bolton, Mass. who 
came to this town in 1792; died 
June 25, 1795 ; — Dr. Jacob B. 
IMooRE, a native of Georgetown, 
Me. born Sept. 5, 1772 ; settled in 
Andover in 1796 ; died Jan. 10, 
1813. He possessed respectable 
poetical talents, was a writer on 
political subjects in the pul)lic pa- 
pers, and was eminent in his 
profession. Jonathan Weare, Esq. 
for many years a civil magistrate 
and highly respected for his integ- 
ritv, died Jan. 18, 1816, aged 60. 
Mr. William Blake and Mr. Jo- 
seph Noyes were respectal)le citi- 
zens. The latter, at his decease, 
made a donation to the town of 
$10,000, for the support of an 
academy — a building for which has 
already i)een erected by his exec- 
utor. The deaths in this town for 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



39 3'ears, are 441 — annual average I 
11 : the greatest mortality, in 1802, 
when 42 persons died of dysentery ; 
and in 1812 and 1818, when a ina- 
lignaiit typhus fever prevailed. 
This town has about 250 dwelling 
houses. Pop. 1642. 

Antrim, a post township in 
Hillsborough county, in lat. 43° 3', 
is bounded N. by Windsor an*l 
Hillsborough, E. by Contoocook 
river which divides it from Deer- 
ing, S. by Hancock, and W. by 
Stoddard and the N. E. corner of 
Nelson. It contains 21,743 acres. 
It is 20 miles from Amherst, 30 
from Concord, and 67 from Boston. 
The E. part of Antrim lies on Con- 
toocook river ; and though some- 
what hilly, is a tract of productive 
land, a considerable proportion of 
which is arable. On the river 
there are valuable tracts of alluvi- 
al land. The North Branch river, 
so called, a small stream origina- 
ting from several ponds in Stod- 
dard, furnishes several valuable 
mill seats, and in some parts of its 
course, it is bordered by tracts of 
interval. The W. part of the 
town is mountainous, but suitable 
for grass, and affords an extensive 
range of good pasturage. There 
are six natural ponds. Gregg's 
pond, above a mile S. W. from the 
centre of the town, covers a sur- 
face of perhaps 200 acres, and ini 
some places is 80 feet deep, and isj 
well stored with perch and pike. | 
Its outlet, a tributary to Contno-' 
cook river, affords several mill priv-j 
ileges. Willard's pond in the S.j 
W. part, is less than Gregg's. Thei 
remaining four are small, having! 
from 5 to 20 acres surface. Thej 
soil of this town is mostly a deep 
gravelly loam, favorable for grass, 
corn, oats, flax, &c. The apple- 
tree flourishes remarkably well. 
Tlje forest trees are sugar-maple. 



beech, black, white and yellow 
birch, white anH sv/amp ash, red 
oak, hemlock and spruce. There 
is very little white pine timber ; 
no butternut, walnut or chesnut. 
In some peaces, eims are numerous. 
There has lately been discovered 
in the middle branch of Contoo- 
cook river, a rock, about 10 feet 
long and 8 feet wide, covered with 
n shallow coat of moss, affording 
sustenance to 21 different kinds of 
plants and shrubs, three of which 
produce edible fruit. Antrim at 
some periods has exhibited a great 
degree of health ; at other times 
it has been visited witii distressing 
sickness. In 1800, froi.i the 23d 
of July, to the 23d Septem'ber, 62 
persons died of the dysentery, and 
3 others of other disorders. The 
spotted fever appeared Feb. 7, 
1812, in tlie family of Mr. Samuel 
Weeks, and from that time to 
April 10, there occurred 162 cases, 
I of which 35 terminated fatally. 
Throughout the month of March, 
it extended itself rapidly in differ- 
ent directions. In some of the 
first families attacked with it, al- 
most every person was seized ; in 
others only one or two were mate- 
rially affected. In some cases, 
it seemed to spread progressively 
from one family to another, as if 
communicated fiom one person to 
the other, at the same time that in 
others, it suddenly made its appear- 
ance in distant neighborhoods, sev 
zing two or three persons in a fami- 
|ly, nearly at once. All classes of 
I people and all ages seemed alike 
exposed to its attack. Among its 
victims, was Daniel Nichols, Esq. 
father to Rev. John Nichols, a na- 
tive of this town, who graduated 
at Dartmouth College in 1813; and 
was ordained at Boston Sept. 3, 
1817, as a missionary to India, 
where he now resides. Antrim^ 



74 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



derives its name from Antrim in 
the count}- of the same name in 
Ireland. It was incorporated 
March 22, 1777. The lirst settle- 
ment was made by Dea. James Ai- 
ken about the year 1768. Four 
j^ears elapsed before a second fam- 
ily moved into tlie place. During 
these and several succeeding years, 
lie endured various hardships re- 
sulting from the want of neighbors 
and the wilderness state of the 
country. For some time, he was 
obliged to go to Peterborough, New- 
Boston and other places in order 
to have his grain ground into meal. 
Dea. Aiken was a native of Lon- 
donderry, where he was born in 
1731. He died July 27, 1817. He 
was a professor of the christian re- 
ligion more than 60 years, and 
adorned it by a serious and exem- 
plary life. The people here are 
chieriy attached to the presbyterian 
form of doctrine and church govern- 
ment. A church of this kind was 
gathered in 1788. Rev. Walter 
Little, afterwards Fullerton, who 
graduated at Dartmouth College 
in 1796, was ordained Sept. 3, 
1800; dismissed Sept. 1804. Rev. 
John M. IVhiton, wlio graduated 
at Yale College in 1805, was or- 
dained Sept. 28, 1808. Pop. 1330. 

ASHUEI.OT or ASHWILLET, a 

river in Cheshire county, which 
has its source in a pond in Wash- 
ington. It runs in a southerfV 
course through Marlow and Gilsum 
to Kcene, where it receives a con- 
siderable branch issuing from ponds 
in Stod(iard. From Keene it pro- 
ceeds to Swanzey, where it receives 
anotlier considerable branch which 
originates in JaftVcy and Fitzwil- 
liam. It pursues its course south- 
erly and westerly through Win- 
chester into Hinsdale, where, at 
the distance of about 3 miles from 
the S. line of the state, it empties 



into the Connecticut. Some at- 
tempts have been made to render 
this river navigable for boats. So 
far as they have extended, they 
have been successful. The ob- 
structions in the river from Keene 
to within six miles of its mouth 
have been removed ; two sets of 
locks constructed, and it is now 
considered passable through this 
distance. But whether the great 
expense which will attend the re- 
moval of the obstructions, and ca- 
nalling the remaining six miles 
will not prevent further progress, 
and therefore render useless what 
has already been effected, is yet 
questionable. 

Atkinson, a post-town in Rock- 
ingham county, lat. 42° 51', is about 
5 miles in length, 4 1-4 in breadth, 
and bounded N. by Hampstead, E. 
by Plaistow, S. by Haverhill, Ms. 
W. by Salem and Londonderry. 
It contains 6839 acres, lying 36 
miles from Bostoq, 30 from Ports- 
mouth, and 32 from Concord. The 
surface of Atkinson is uneven ; 
the soil of a superior quality, and 
well situated. The cultivation of 
the apple has received much atten- 
tion here, and the finest fruit is 
produced. Atkinson comprises a 
portion of the lands conveyed by 
tiie Indians, Nov. 15, 1642, to the 
inhabitants of Pentuckett, (now 
Haverhill). The deed was signed 
by two noted sachems, Passaquo 
and Saggahew, with the consent 
of Passaconaway, their chief. 
When the dividiiig line between 
this state and Massachusetts was 
finally settled, tne tract comprising 
Plaistow fell within the limits of 
this state, and Atkinson, on nc- 
cour.t oi difficulties respecting the 
location of the meeting house at 
the S. extremity of the town, was 
et off from Plaistow Aug. 31, and 
incorporated Sept. 3, 1767, by its 



NEW-HAPtdPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



75 



present name, in honor of Theo- 
dore Atkinson, a member of the 
council and a large landholder 
The first settlements wore made in 
1727 or 1728, by Benjamin Rich- 
ards, of Rochester, in this state, 
and Jonathan and Edmund PajF 
and John Dow, from HnYerhill 
Ms. Several of the first settlers 
lived to a great age. The Rev. 
Stephen Peabody was the first and 
only settled minister in Atkinson. 
He was a native of Andover, Ms. 
born Nov. 11,1742; graduated at 
Harvard University in 1769; was 
ordained Nov. 25, 1772, when the 
congregational church v/as formed, 
and renwined in the ministry until 
his death. May 23, 1819. He was 
related by marriage to the late 
President Adams, having married 
for his second wife the sister of 
Mrs. A. He took an active part 
in the revolution, and served as 
chaplain in the regiment under Col. 
Poor, stationed at Winter-Hill. 
The academy in this town is one 
of the oldest and most respectable 
institutions in the state; it was in- 
corporated Feb. 17, 1791. "In a 
large meadow in this town, thei-e 
is an island, containing 7 or 8 acres, 
which was formerly loaded with 
valuable pine timber and other for- 
est wood. When the meadow is 
overflowed, by means of an artifi 
cial dam, this island rises in the 
same degree as the water rises, 
which is sometimes six feet. Near 
the middle of this island, is a small 
pond, which has been gradually 
4essening ever since it was first 
known, and is now almost covered 
with verdure. In the water of 
this pond, there have been fish in 
plenty ; which, when the meadov.' 
hath been flowed, have appeared 
there, and when the water hath 
been drawn off, have been left on 
the meadow ; at which time the 



island settles to its usual place." 
The correctness of this account of 
the floating island, given by Dr. 
Belknap, and which was furnished 
him by the Rev. Mr. Peabody, has 
been doubted ; but there are per- 
sons still living wlio can substan- 
tiate the faLf. The artificial dam 
is now in ruins. Pop. 563. 

B. 

Back river. See Bellamy 
Bank. 

Baker's river, a considerable 
stream in Grafton county, is form- 
ed of two branches. The N. branch 
has its source near Moosehillock 
mountain in Coventry. It runs 
sout) --rly through Warren into 
WenUvorth, where it unites with 
the S. branch which originates in 
Orange. After the union of these 
branches, the river pursues a S. E. 
and an easterly course through the 
S. part of Rumney and the N. part 
of Plymouth, where it forms a 
junction witli Pemigewasset river 
just above Plymouth village. It 
was on this river, in the township 
of Rumney, that General Stark 
was captured by the Indians, oh 
the 28th of April, 1752. See 
Rumney. 

Barker's Location, a tract of 
land in Coos county, containing 
3,020 acres, granted Oct. 21, 1773, 
to Capt. Joshua Barker, of Hing- 
ham, Ms. It now composes a part 
of Lancaster, to which it was an- 
nexed June 22, 1819. 

Barhstead, post-town, Straf- 
ford county, in iat. 43° 21', is boun- 
ded N. E. by Alton, N. W. by Gil- 
manton, S. W. by Pittsfield, S. by 
Stafford, and contains 26,000 acres. 
it is 36 miles from Portsmouth, 26 
irom Dover, and 20 from Concord. 
Barnstead is not mountainous, but 
has large swells of land. The soil is 



76 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



«asy and productive ; the original 
growth, pine, uak, beech, maple, 
&c. There are several piiuis i'; 
this town — the largest are liie twi. 
Suncook ponds, which lie near 
each other, Brindle pond, and Half- 
moon pond, on Alton liiif . Thes^ 
waters are stocked will fish, and are 
discharged into the Suncock. Barn- 
stead was granted May 20, 1727, 
to the Rev. Joseph Adams and oth- 
ers. Settlements commenced in 
1767. A congregational church 
was organized Aug. 5, 1804 ; and 
Rev. Enos George settled on the 
26th Sept. following. Elder David 
Knowlton was settled over the free- 
will baptist society in 1804 ; died 
1809, and was succeeded by Eld. 
JS/'athaniel Wilson. The social 
library in this town was incorpora- 
ted in 1807, and contains 180 vol- 
umes. The number of deaths since 
1804, has been 204. Pop. 1805. 

Barrijvgtojv, post-town, in 
Strafford county, lat. 43° 12', is 20 
miles from Portsmouth, 10 from 
Dover, 30 from Concord, 65 from 
Boston ; bounded N. E. by Far- 
niington and Rochester, S. E. by 
Madbury, Lee and Dover, S. W.by 
Nottingham and Northwood, and 
N. W. by Strafford. The surface 
of Barrington is somewhat broken 
and rocky, the soil being principal- 
ly a gravelly loam. The oak ridges, 
however, are a sandy loam, or hazel 
mould, and are very good for tillage. 
The town is abundantly supplied 
with ponds, of which there are no 
less than thirteen of considerable 
magnitude, from whence issue 
streams affording excellent mill- 
seats. At one of these mill-seats, 
on the Isinglass river, is a perpen- 
dicular fall of 30 feet, with a suffi- 
cient supply of water for an exten- 
sive factory. The rocks in this town 
are principally granite, are compos- 
ed of feldspar, quartz and mica, and 



have a granulur»structure. In the 
composition of these rocks, quartz 
predominates. In some of them, 
very perfect and beautiful crystals 
of quartz, and in others, tourmaline 
and graphite are found. Boi> iron 
(.re is also somewhat abundant, and 
was formerly wrought here. There 
is, about two miles from the centre 
of the town, a remarkable cavern 
or fissure in a rock, commonly cal- 
led the DeoiVs den. The entrance 
is on the side of a hill, and is suffi- 
ciently large to admit a person in a 
stooping posture. Having entered 
5 feet in a horizontal direction, 
there is a descent of 4 or 5 feet, on 
an angle of 45°, large enough onljr 
to admit the body of a middling siz- 
ed man. After squeezing through 
this passage, you enter a chamber 
60 feet in length, from 10 to 15 in 
height, and from 3 to 8 in width. — 
Commi^nicating with this, are sev- 
eral other fissures of equal height, 
and from 10 to 15 in length, which, 
wanting sufficient width, remain 
unexplored. In religious sentiment 
the inhabitants of this town are 
principally congregationalists and 
baptists. Over the congregational 
church, which was formed soon af- 
ter the settlement of the town, Rev. 
Joseph Prince was settled in 1755; 
dismissed in 1768. Rev. David 
Tenney was settled in 1771 ; dis- 
missed 1778, and soon after died. 
Rev. Benjamin Balch was settled 
in 1784, and died in 1815. The 
church is now vacant. Barrington 
was incorporated May 10, 1722, and 
the settlement commenced in 1732. 
The town is healthy — of the first 
settlers, fourteen, who were between 
80 and 90 years of age, were alive 
in 1815. Barrington was originally 
13 miles in length, 6 1-2 in breadth 
and in 1810 contained 3564 inhabi- 
tants ; but in 1820 the town was di- 
vided, and the western section ia- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



77 



corporatec] into a new town of the 
name of Strafford — thus reducing 
the territory and population more 
than one half. Present pop. 1610. 

Barroiv's Island. See Pler- 
mont. 

Bartlett, post-town, Coos 
tounty, is in lat. 44° 4', 45 miles 
from Lancaster, 75 from Concord, 
and 85 from Portsmouth. It lies 
at the foot of the White Moun- 
tains, with Adams on the N., Chat- 
ham on the E., Conway and the 
public lands on the S. and W. It 
has an area of about 13,000 acres. 
Its soil is various, and on the Saco, 
in some parts, good. Tins river 
meanders through the centre of 
the town, which is also watered by 
other streams. Bartlett was in- 
corporated June 16, 1790; and re- 
ceived its name in honor of Gov. 
Bartlett. Pop. 511. 

Bath, a post-township in Graf- 
ton county, on Connecticut river, 
in lat. 44° 10', is bounded N. by 
Lyman, E. by Landaff, S. by Ha- 
verhill, and W. by Ryegate, Vt., 
containing 22,827 acres. It is 42 
miles N. E. of Dartmouth College, 
82 N. N. W. of Concord and 148 
from Boston. Bath is pleasantly 
situated in the vale of the Connec- 
ticut, between the Green moun- 
tains on the W., and the White 
Mountains on the E., by wliich it is 
effectually shielded from high winds 
and long storms. The Amonoo- 
suck river waters the S. E. part, 
affording many fine mill seats and 
water privileges. It falls into Con- 
necticut river at the S. W. angle 
of the town. It receives in its 
course, about 4 miles from its mouth, 
the Wild Amonoosuck river, which 
rushes down the lofty Moosehil- 
lock. The head of boat naviga- 
tion on Connecticut river is in 
Bath. It is interrupted by a very 
iBiajestic fall of water, at which a 
H 



dam is erected and several mills 
built. The Amonoosuck has a 
very convenient fall at the village, 
calculated to accommodate ma- 
chinery to any extent. At the 
principal village, there is a consid- 
erable bridge over the Amonoosuck, 
of 350 feet in length — built in 
1807. There is a ferry across the 
river at the falls. Perch pond, 
having a surface of about 100 
acres, is situated in the S. part of 
the town. At the S. W. corner of 
Bath, Gardner's mountain rises by 
a very bold ascent from the conflu- 
ence of Connecticut and Amonoo- 
suck rivers, and runs a N. course 
through the whole town, separating 
the inhabitants, who have no com- 
munication but by one pass in the 
mountain. Its height is generally 
about 500 feet. On this mountain, 
are various appearances of iron 
and silver ore. Strata of rock 
have been opened near the lower 
village, the most of which will dis- 
solve on being immersed in warm 
water. Alum and copperas have 
been made from this rock. The 
rocks here are principally granite, 
slate and flint. The soil on the 
hills is generally a reddish loam, 
on abed of marl or hard pan. In 
the valleys, it is alluvial. In some 
parts, are clayey soils ; in others, 
sandy. There are but few swamps. 
About one sixth part of the whole 
town is interval land. The native 
forests, in the valleys and on the 
flats, are white pine, hemlock, 
spruce, elm, and some cedar ; on 
the hills, maple, beech, birch, oak 
and mountain ash. Much improve- 
ment has l>een made in the agricul- 
ture of this place. Gypsum has 
been found highly useful on all the 
soils, except cold and wet land. 
The surplus produce is carried to 
Boston, Salem and Portland. In 
1811, the spotted fever visited thii 



u 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



place, but did not prove very fatal. 
Tiie annual average number of 
deaths is about 20. There is aso- 
cial library, containing upwards of 
200 volumes. The original charter 
of Bath was granted Sfept. 10, 1761, 
to Rev. Andrew Gardner and 61 
others. In March, 1769, it was 
re-chartered to John Sawyer and 
others, on the assumption of the 
forfeiture of the first charter. The 
first settlement was made in 1765, 
by John Herriman from Haverhill, 
Ms. In 1766 and '67, Moses Pike 
and the family of Mr. Sawyer com- 
menced settlements. A presbyte- 
rian church was formed in 1778, 
which was dissolved in 1791, and 
a congregational church organized, 
embracing 19 members. Rev. Da- 
vid Sutherland, a native of Edin- 
burg, was installed Oct. 24, 1805. 
In 1811, a revival of religion oc- 
curred, which added to the church | 
77 members ; and in 1820 and '21, 
a further addition of 101 members 
was made to the church. There 
are some baptists and methodists 
in this town. Pop. 1498. 

Bean Hill. See JVorthJidd. 

Be ARC AMP, a river, which is 
formed of several brahches rising 
on the south sides of Sandwich 
and Burton mountains. The two 
principal branches unite in Ossi- 
pee, and fall into the Ossipee lake 
on its western border. 

Beaver Brook, the name of 
several streams in this state. The 
largest has its source in a small 
pond in Unity, and running W. 
falls into the Connecticut in 
Charlestown. One other rises in 
Mont-Vernon, and falls into the 
Souhegan ; and another passes 
from Stewartstown through Cole 
brook. 

Beaver. River, has its princi 
pal source in Beaver pond, a beau 
t).[\{\ body of water, in London- 



derry. It passes S. through Pel- 
ham, and falls into the Merrimack 
in Dracut, nearly opposite the 
mouth of Coucord river, in Mass. 

Bedford, a post-township in 
Hillsborough county, is situated on 
Merrimack river, in lat. 42° 53'. 
It is bounded N. by Goffstown, E. 
by Merrimack river, which divides 
it from Manchester and the N. part 
of Litchfield, S. by the township of 
Merrimack, and W. by Amherst 
and New-Boston, containing 20,- 
660 acres. It is 8 miles from Am- 
herst, 21 frasm Concord and 52 from 
Boston. Merrimack and Piscata- 
quog are the only rivers in this 
town. The latter passes through 
its N. E. corner, where there is a 
pleasant and flourishing village, 
which will be noticed under Pis- 
cataquog Village. In the W. 
part of this town, the land is une- 
ven and abounds with stones, but 
the qualities of the soil are warm 
and moist. The E. par't, border- 
ing on the Merrimack, is pine 
plain, with some very productive 
intervals. The principal forest 
trees are white, red, and black oak, 
walnut, chesnut, maple, birch, pine, 
hemlock, &c. Of the white oak, 
great quantities of ship timber have 
been obtained, and conveyed to 
Charlestown, Ms. by means of the 
river and Middlesex canal. Great 
attention is paid to the cultivation 
of hops ; and there are raised in 
some years, 100,000 lb?. The ag- 
ricultural and general condition of 
this town has of late become flour- 
ishing. Linen and woollen are 
the principal manufactures, of 
which there have been made cloths 
of a quality equal to foreign im- 
portations. On the W. line of 
Bedford, are a remarkable gulf and 
precipice, which are regarded as 
objects of curiosity. A consider- 
able brook passes over the preci- 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



73 



pice, and falls about 200 feet with- 
in the distance of 100 yards. Here 
are found several excavations in 
solid stone, which are sufiiciently 
large to contain many persons. 
Sibbins' pond is in the E. part of 
the town. Strictly speaking, there 
are three ponds, wliich appear to 
be united by their waters beneath 
the surface of an extensive bog, 
which floats upon the surface and 
rises and falls with the water. 
These ponds, taken together, are 
about 80 rods in diameter, and 
abound with most kinds of fresh 
water fish. There is in BedforJ, 
a social library incorporated in 
1802. Those who have recei- 
ved a collegiate education from 
this town, are, at Dartmouih Col- 
lege, Joseph Goffe, 1791 ; John 
Vose, 1795; Benj. Orr, 1798; Jo- 
seph Bell, 1807; John Walker 
1808 ; William Gordon, 1811 ; 
William Orr, 1815 ; Adam Gordon, 
1817; John Aiken, 1819; Thorn 
ton McGaw, 1820 ; Adams Moore 
1822 : at Yale College, Isaac Orr 
1818; Robert Riddle, 1818; Free- 
man Riddle, 1819; Robert Orr, 
1820 : at Middlebury College, 
Isaac O. Barnes, 1820. In miner- 
alogy, this fown affords a great va- 
riety of specimens. Iron ore is 
found in different places and in sev- 
eral varieties. Sulphuret of iron, 
imbedded in common granite, and 
led oxide of iron combined with al- 
luviine, are common. Black lead, 
(graphite) pyritous copper, schorl, 
hornblende, epidote, talc, rnica, 
black, yellow and green, gneiss,crys- 
tallized quartz, &;c. are found here. 
Fifty years since, iron was manu- 
factured inconsiderable quantities 
at the m.outh of Crosby brook. 
Witliin a few years, iron ore in 
large quantities has been transport- 
ed to Billerica and other foiges out 
of town. Bedford was one of the 



Narraganset townships granted by 
Massachusetts in 1733, to the sur- 
viving officers and soldiers, and 
the heirs of those deceased, who 
were engaged in King Philip's war 
in 1676. The number of grantees 
was 120, all of whom except one 
belonged to Massachusetts. It was 
first called JVarraganset JVo. 5, or 
Souhegan East. The first settle- 
ment commenced in the winter of 
1737, by Robert and James Walker, 
vi^ho, the ensuing year, were follow- 
ed by Col. John Goffe, Matthew 
Patten, Esq. and Capt. Sanmel Pat- 
ten. Several of the early settlers 
emigrated from the north of Ire- 
land. The first child born in town 
was Silas Barron, son of Capt. Mo- 
ses Barron — he was born Jan. 16, 
1741. The town was incorporated 
by charier from Gov. Wentworth, 
May 19, 1750. Bedford was the 
residence of many Indians in for- 
mer times. In 1745, as James 
McQuade and Robert Burns, who 
had been to Penacook to purchase 
corn for their families, were re- 
turning home, they killed McQuade 
in Pembroke; but Burns escaped 
by running in a zig-zag direction, 
by which means, he baffled the fire 
of the pursuers, and returned in 
safety to his family. ' On the bank 
of Merrimack river,opposite Goffe's 
falls, is a spot of ground, about ten 
rods long and four wide, which is 
supposed to have been an Indian 
burial place. The surface of the 
bank is about 40 feet above the riv- 
er. Human bones at various times 
have been washed from the bank. 
In the summer of 1821, Drs. Wood- 
bury and Riddle obtained a part of 
three skeletons from this place. 
Some of the bark in which they 
had been deposited remained. One 
of them appeared to have been put 
in the ground in a sitting posture. 
All of their heads lay towards ijje 



to 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



south. One was supposed to be a 
female. The hair was entire, and 
was done up in a bunch on the 
back part of the head in a manner 
similar to that practised at the pres- 
ent day. A presbyterian church 
was formed in 1757. Rev. John 
Houston was ,ordained about the 
same time, and remained the min- 
ister till 1778. From this period 
the church was vacant, but enjoy- 
ed occasional preaching, till Sept. 
5, 1804, when jRet). David McGreg- 
ore, who graduated at Dartmouth 
College in 1799, was ordained. 
Hon, Matthew Pattei?, a gen- 
tleman of very respectable charac- 
ter, the second judge of probate in 
Hillsborough county, and one of 
the first settlers, died in this town. 
Hon. John Orr, who died in Jan. 
1823, at the age of 75, was a distin- 
guished citizen of this town. He 
was in the battle of Bennington 
under Gen. Stark, and received a 
wound in the early part of the en- 
gagement. Pop. 1375. 

Bellamy Bank, a river, one 
branch of which issues from Ches- 
ley's pond in Barrington, and the 
other from low and marshy lands 
in the vicinity ; these unite in Mad- 
bury, and after rfieandering through 
the town, the waters fall into the 
Pascataqua, on the W. side of Do- 
yet Neck, where the stream is cal- 
led Back river. 

Bellows Falls, a remarkable 
fall, in Connecticut river, in the 
township of Walpiole, and former- 
ly known by the name of the Great 
fall. The breadth of the river, 
above the fall, is 22 rods ; in some 
places not more than 16. A large 
rock divides the stream into two 
channels, each about 90 feet wide, 
on the top of the shelving bank. 
When the water is low, the east- 
ern channel appears crossed by a 
barof s»lid rock, and the whole 



stream falls into the western chan- 
nel, where it is contracted to the 
breadth of 16 feet, and flows with 
astonishing rapidity. There are 
several pitches, one above another, 
in the length of half a mile, the 
largest of which is that where the 
rock divides the stream. Notwith- 
standing the velocity of the cur- 
rent, the salmon pass up this fall, and 
are taken many miles above ; but 
the shad proceed no farther. Over 
this fall, in the year 1785, a bridge 
of timber was constmcted by Col. 
Enoch Hale, Its length was 365 
feet,and was supported in the middle 
by the great rock. In 1792, this 
was the only bridge across Con- 
necticut river, and now, in 1823, 
there are, in this state, sixteen 
bridges. In crossing the bridge 
from this town to Rockingham, Vt. 
the traveller has an interesting and 
sublime view of these falls. 

Bethlehem, township,in Graf- 
ton county, in lat. 44° 15', is boun- 
ded N. by Whitefield and Dalton, 
E. by Bretton-Woods and ungrant- 
ed land, S. by Franconia and Con- 
cord, and N. W. by Littleton, con- 
taining 28,603 acres. It is water- 
ed by Great Amonoosuck river, 
which takes its rise at the notch of 
the White Mountains, and runs in 
a W. and N. W. direction through 
nearly the centre of this town. A 
branch of the same river runs 
through the southerly part into 
Franconia. The mountains are 
called Round and Peaked. The 
soil produces good crops of grass 
and grain. There is plenty of pine 
timber and sugar maple. Iron ore, 
both of the mountain and bog kind, 
has been occasionally found. Two 
mineral springs have been discov- 
ered. Bethlehem was settled in 
1790, by Jonas Warren, Benjamin 
Brown, James Turner, Thomas and 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



81 



John Hatch, Nathan and Anios| 
Wheeler, Nathl. Snow and Lot| 
WoodburJ^ It was incorporated 
Dec. 27, 1799. A congregational 
church was formed Oct. 15, 1802; 
a baptist church in Sept. 1800 ; and 
a freewill baptist, June 26, 1813. 
The number of members in each 
of the baptist churches is 46 ; in 
the congregational, 23. Pop. 467. 
Bishop's Brook rises in the S. 
E. part of Stewartstown, and me- 
anders N. W. through the town in- 
to Connecticut river. 

BlackwAter river, so called 
from its dark, appearance, is formed 
by two small streams, one of which 
rises in Danbury, and the other 
issues from Pleasant pond in New- 
London. These branches unite 
soon after crossing the W. line of 
Andover, and form the Blackwater, 
which passes v^^ith considerable ra- 
pidity through the S. W. part of 
that town ; from thence through 
the W. part of the towns of Salis- 
bury and Boscawen into Hopkin- 
ton, where it empties into Contoo 
cook river. 

Blind Will's Neck, is £ 
point of land formed by the conflu 
ence of the Isinglass and Cocheco 
rivers, in the south part of Roch- 
ester. Blind Will was a sagamore 
of the Indians liviog about the Co 
checo. During the war with King 
Philip, the enemy having made 
their appearance in the vicinity 
he was sent out by Maj. Waldron 
with seven other Indians, to make 
discoveries. They were all sur- 
prised by a company of Mohawks 
— two or tliree escaped, and the 
others were killed or taken. Will 
was dragged away by his hair, and 
being wounded, perished on the 
neck, which has since borne his 
name. 

Bloody Point, on the New- 
ington side of the Pascataqua riv- 
H2 



er, is so called from a quarrel which 
took place in 1631, between the 
agents of the two companies of 
proprietors about a point of land 
convenient for both ; and, there 
being at that time no government 
established, the controversy would 
have ended in blood, had the par- 
ties not been persuaded to refer 
the dispute to their employers. 

Blue Hills, the name gener- 
ally appropriated to tlie first range 
of mountains in the state, commen- 
cing in Nottingham and extending 
through Strafibrd, Farmington and 
Milton ; the several summits are 
distinguished by different names, as 
Teneriffe, Saddleback, Tuckaway, 
&c. See towns just mentioned. 

Boar's Head. .S'ee Hampton. 

Boscawen, a post-township in 
Hillsborough county, is situated 
between Concord and Salisbury, 
on the W. side of Merrimack river, 
in lat 43° 19'. It is 7 miles in 
length and about the same in 
breadth, and contains an area of 
32,230 acres. It is bounded N. by 
Salisbury, E. by the Merrimack, 
which divides it from Northfield 
and Canterbury, S. by Concord and 
Hopkinton, and W. oy Warnei-. 
Boscawen is 8 miles from Concord, 
52 from PortSiViOuth, 68 from Bos- 
ton, and 514 from Washington 
I City. Besides the Merrimack, the 
I west part of this town is watered 
by Blackwater river, running near- 
ly parallel with the former, through 
the whole extent of the tov.-n and 
about five miles distant from it. 
It is not a large stream, but very 
important, both on account of the 
fertile fields of champaign on its 
borders, and the numerous water 
privileges it affords. It empties 
itself into Contoocook river in 
Hopkinton. Over this river and 
the various other streams, this 
town supports more than two miles 



82 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



of plank bridges, including their 
abutments. There are two ponds 
of some note. Great pond, near 
the centre of the town, is 1 mile 
in length, and 1 mile in width. 
Long pond, in the west part, is 2 
miles long and from 1-2 to 3-4 of 
a mile wide. There are mill seats 
at the outlet of each. The soil 
seems to admit of three divisions, 
the interval, plain and highland. 
The intervals on the Merrimack 
are, in many places, widely ex- 
tended and were originally very 
fertile ; the plains border on the 
intervals and have a thinner soil ; 
the highland, which comprises a- 
bout five sevenths of the whole 
town, lies in large swells extending 
from north to south. The natural 
growth is virhite oak and other hard 
wood. It is of a deep, productive 
soil, affording many excellent 
farms delightfully situated. The 
surface of Boscawen, when viewed 
from its highest parts, appears un- 
commonly level. There are few 
spots where sto nes abound. There 
are no morasses nor stagnant wa- 
ters. From the numerous streams 
of living water, and from the pe- 
culiar direction of the swells of 
the hills, this town probably de- 
rives that pure air and uniform 
temperature which are so condu- 
cive to health. The number of 
deaths for the eleven years ending 
January 1, 1819, was 269. There 
are 15 school districts, which have 
on an average about 35 scholars 
to each, and 15 school-houses. 
For the attention paid to education 
in this place, much credit is due 
to the Rev. Dr. Wood, who has 
entered at the different colleges 
between 30 and 90 young gentle- 
men, of whom 31 have been enga- 
ged in the ministry. The Bos- 
cawen social library was founded 
m 1792 : incorporated Dec, 2. 



1797, and contains 220 volumes. 
This town has a musical society, 
an auxiliary to the American ed- 
ucation society, one for the educa- 
tion of heathen youth, two feraak 
gleaning societies, a moral, an ag- 
ricultural, and two female cent so- 
cieties, which are annually exten- 
ding their aid to the objects which 
they respectively embrace. The- 
principal village is in the east sec- 
tion of the town. It has between 
30 and 40 dwelling houses, situated 
on a spacious street nearly two 
miles in length, very straight and 
level. Here the eye of the obser- 
vant traveller is attracted and de- 
lighted by the fertile intervals and 
windings of the river Merrimack. 
There is another village forming 
on a pleasant eminence near the 
west meeting-house. Boscawen 
was granted by Massachusetts in 
1733, to 91 proprietors, who held 
their first meeting May 2, 1733, at 
Newbury. The proprietors gave 
to it the name of Contoocook, af- 
ter the Indian name of the river. 
It received its present name, when 
it was incorporated April 22, 1760, 
from Edward Boscawen, a cele- 
brated English admiral then on 
the American station. The first 
settlement commenced early in 
the season of 1734 by Nathaniel 
Danforth, Andrew Bohonnon, Mo- 
ses Burbank, Stephen Gerrish, and 
Edward Emery. Others soon fol- 
lowed to the number of 27 fami- 
lies. Abigail Danforth was the 
first child born in the town. These 
families were secured against the 
hostile encroachments of the In- 
dians by a log fort, 100 feet square 
and 10 feet high, built by the pro- 
prietors in 1739. In this fort the 
inhabitants lived in garrison more 
than twenty-two years. They had 
previously built a log house for relig- 
ious worship and their public meet- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



83 



ings. In 1746, the Indians made 
a predatory incursion on the in- 
habitants ; iiilled Thomas Cook, 
his son, and a man of color, and 
took Elisha Jones prisoner. In 
1754, they killed Timothy Cook, 
and took Enos Bishop into captivi- 
ty to Canada, from whence he es- 
caped about a year afterward and 
returned home. Mr. Jones died 
in captivity. An island, at tht 
mouth of Contoocook river, be- 
tv/een this town and Concord was 
the scene of the well known ex- 
ploit of Mrs. Hannah DustoiM 
which may be described in this 
place. On the 15th of March, 1698, 
the Indians made a descent on Ha- 
verhill, Mass., vi'here they took 
Mrs. Duslon, who was confined to 
her bed with an infant only six 
days old, and attended by hei 
nurse, Mary Niff. The Indians 
took Mrs. Duston from her bed and 
carried her away with the nurse 
and infant. They soon despatch- 
ed the latter by dashing its head 
against a tree. When they had 
proceeded as far as this island, 
which has been justly called Dus- 
ton's island, on their way to an In- 
dian town situate a considerable 
distance above, the Indians inform- 
ed the womexi that they must be 
stripped and run the gauntlet thro' 
the village on their arrival. — 
Mrs. Duston and her nurse had 
been assigned to a family consist- 
ing of two stout men, three women 
and seven children, or young In 
dians, besides an English boy who 
had been taken from Worcester. 
Mrs. Duston, aware of the cruel- 
ties that awaited her, formed the 
design of exterminating the whole 
family, and prevailed upon the 
nurse and the boy to assist her in 
their destruction. A little before 
day, finding the whole company 
m a sound sleep, she aviroke her 



confedei"ates, and with the Indian 
hatchets despatched ten of the 
twelve. One of the women whom 
they thought they had killed made 
her escape, and a favorite boy they 
designedly left. Mrs. Duston and 
her companions arrived safe home 
with the scalps, though their dan- 
ger from the enemy and from fam- 
ine in travelling so far, must have 
been great. The general court of 
Massachusetts made her a grant of 
j£50 and she received many valua- 
ble presents. The time when the 
church was formed in this place 
has not been ascertained. The 
ministers who have successively 
presided over it have been as fol- 
lows : Rev. Phinehas Stevens, or- 
rlained October 8, 1740, and died 
Jan. 19, 1755. Rev. Robie Mor- 
rill, ordained Dec. 29, 1761; dis- 
missed Dec. 9, 1766 ; and died 
Sept. 23, 1813, aged 79. Rev. 
Nathaniel Merrill, ordained Oct, 
19. 1768, and dismissed April 1, 
1774. Rev. Samuel Wood, D. D. 
ordained Oct. 17, 1781. The se- 
cond congregational church was 
formed Sept. 10, 1804, and Rev. 
Ebenezer Price was installed on 
the 26th of the same month. 
George Jackman, Esq. of this town 
is entitled to respectful notice. 
He was the first town clerk and 
continued in office 36 years. He 
was appointed a justice of the 
peace under George II. and con- 
tinued such under all the succes- 
sive changes of government to 1818 
— he was a selectman 22 years, a 
representative to the general court, 
and a delegate to the state conven- 
tion. He is still living at an ad- 
vanced age. 

Bow, a township in Rockingham 
county, lat. 43° 8', was granted 
May 20, 1727, to Jonathan Wig- 
gin and others, and was originally 
laid out nine miles square, coaa- 



84 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



prehending a great portion of the 
territory now constituting Pem- 
broke and Concord ; but at present 
it contains about 16,000 acres, 
bounded N. E. by Merrimack riv- 
er which divides it from Pembroke, 
S. E. by Hooksett, S. W. by Dun 
barton, N. W. by Concord, and a 
part of Hopkinton. The soil is 
very uneven and hard, but produc- 
tive when well managed. There 
is but one pond of any size, called 
Turee pond. Turkey river emp- 
ties into the Merrimack at Turkey 
fells, near the N. E. part of Bow. 
About a mile below are Garven's 
falls, now passable by locks on 
Bow side. Bow canal is situated 
on the Merrimack 3 miles below 
Concord ; the perpendicular meas- 
urement around which it is carried 
is 25 feet — its length 1-3 of a mile. 
It passes through a ledge of gran- 
ite, and is for the most part im- 
perishable. Its cost was ^13,860 ; 
and about ^2000 of its first income 
were appropriated towards clearing 
channels through Turkey falls, &:c. 
The Londonderry turnpike passes 
through the E. part of this town ; 
and the Londonderry Branch turn- 
pike, through the centre of the 
town from Hooksett to Hopkinton. 
The baptist church in Bow was first 
organized in 1795 ; and Rev. Ben- 
jamin Sargent was ordained in 1797 
over the church and society, where 
he continued till 1801, when he 
removed to Pittsfield, and has since 
died. Rev. Thomas Waterman 
ministered to the people from 1804 
to 1807 ; during which period a 
new church had been formed of 
baptists and congregationalists, and 
subsequently dissolved, the two 
denominations forming distinct so- 
cieties. The latter is now very 
small. From 1807 to 1815, the 
baptist church was without any 
pastor. July 3, 1816, the baptist 



church was re-organized ; and on 
the 13th Feb. 1817, Rev. Hem-y 
Veaz&y was settled. — The church 
now consists of about 60 members. 
The meeting-house is situated on 
a commanding elevation, and is a 
handsome building. Bow is a very 
healthy town — the average number 
of deaths for ten years not exceed- 
ing 12. Pop. 935. The venera- 
ble Samtjel Welch, mentioned 
in page 12, among the instances of 
longevity in this state, was born at 
Kingston, N. H. September 1, 1710 i 
and is now (March, 1823) living 
in this town. His father was from 
Ipswich, Mass. ; his grandfather, 
one of the original emigrants from 
England to that place. This old 
man has outlived all his connex- 
ions — he has lived more than half 
the time since the landing of the 
pilgrims at Plymouth ! The early 
part of his life was spent at Kings- 
ton ; he subsequently lived at Pem- 
broke ; but for the last 50 years he 
has resided at Bow, in an obscure 
corner and steadily cultivated his 
little farm, till the frosts of a cen- 
tury had whitened his locks, and 
the chills of a hundred winters had 
benumbed his frame. His life has 
been marked by no extraordinary 
vicissitude — he was never in battle, 
or in any public service ; he has 
been a man of industry, temper- 
ance and health. In person, he is 
rather above the middle size — of 
Grecian features, with dark ex- 
pressive eyes ; and his locks are 
of a clayey ^^ hite, looking as if 
they had already mouldered in the 
grave. His face is fair, though 
wrinkled with the cares of a cen- 
tury and an eighth^ His frame is 
now feeble, and he is unable to 
walk. His mental faculties, how- 
ever, seem but little impaired, and 
he is an interesting person in con- 
versation. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



BowBACK, a mountain. See 
Stratford. 

Bradford, a post-township in 
Hillsborough county, is situated 
about mid-way between the Mer- 
rimack and Connecticut rivers in 
lat. 43° 14'. It is bounded N. by 
Fisliersfield and Sutton, E. by 
AVarner, S. by Henniker and Hills- 
borougi), W. by Washington, con- 
taining nearly 19,000 acres, of 
which about 600 are of water. It 
is 31 miles from Amherst, 28 from 
Concord and 80 from Boston. This 
town is watered by small streams, 
whicli principally issue from 
ponds, of which the largest is 
Todd's pond, lying in Bradford and 
Fishersiield. Tiiis pond is suppli- 
ed with water from the hills and 
mountains in Fishersfield. In it 
are a number of floating islands, 
which are deemed objects of cu- 
riosity. Its outlet forms the north- 
ern branch of Warner river. — 
Pleasant, or Bradford pond, is on 
the E. side of the town. It is 
about 550 rods long and 150 wide. 
It communicates with Warner 
river by an cutlet at the N. end of 
it. In this pond are several isl- 
ands, whi-ch, with the rugged de- 
clivities on the E. bank, the waters 
below, and the cottages and culti- 
vated fields on the west bank, pre- 
sent to view, in the summer sea- 
son, a wild and variegated land- 
scape. Many parts of Bradford 
are hilly. A large proportion of 
the town, however, lies in a valley, 
about three miles in vidth. Near 
the Sunapee mountains, on the N. 
W., is an extensive plain more 
than a mile long, and about half a 
mile wide. The soil differs in 
quality. It is light, loamy or 
rough. In the easterly part are val- 
uable stone quarries. The num- 
ber of deaths from 1809 to 1817, 
iaclusive» was 146 ; the least an- 



nual number was 4 ; the greatest, 
29. There is a number of socie- 
ties designed to aid in promoting 
charitable objects. There is also 
a respectable library. — Bradford 
was granted to John Peirce and 

George Jaffrey in . Its first 

settlement was made in 1771, by 
Deac. William Presbury, and his 
family. He lived here three yeara 
before any other families arrived. 
It was soon settled by several in- 
habitants from Bradford in Mass., 
from which circumstance it deri- 
ved its name. It was incorporated 
Sept. 27, 1787, and is mentioned 
in the act as including New Brad- 
ford, Washington Gore, and part 
of Washington. The congrega- 
tional church was formed in 1803. 
Rev. Lemuel Bliss was ordained 
March 5, 1805 ; died July 4, 1814, 
aged 38. Rev. Robert Paige was 
ordained May 22, 1822. There is 
a freewill baptist society, over 
which Rev. Jonathan Rowe was 
settled in 1821. There is also a 
small society of episcopalians. 
Pop. 1318. 

Breakfast Hill. See Rye. 

Brentwood, post town. Rock-' 
ingham co., in lat. 43°, is bounded 
E. by Exeter, N. by Epping, W. 
by Poplin, S. by Kingston ; and 
contains 10,465 acres. The soil is 
better adapted to grass than grain, 
although some improvements have 
been made in its qualities. Exeter 
river passes nearly through the cen- 
tre of the town, and there are oth- 
er streams of less magnitude con- 
necting with it. Pick-pocket falls, 
on Exeter river, are in this town, 
and near them are situated an ex- 
tensive cotton factory, and a num- 
ber of mills. A card factory has 
recently been established here, 
which promises to be of great utili- 
ty ; and also an iron furnace for 
casting machinery. Quantities ©f 



36 



NEVT-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



iron ore have been found, and it 
was formerly worked with success. 
Vitriol, combined in masses with 
sulphur, have also been found here. 
Brentwood was incorporated June 
26, 1742. A congregational church 
was organized in 1752, and Rev. 
Nathaniel Trask ordained : he died 
in 1789. Rev. Ebenezer Flint suc- 
ceeded him, was installed in 1801, 
and died in 1811. Rev. Chester 
Cotton, the present minister, was 
settled in 1815. There isasociety 
of baptists here, over whom Elder 
Samuel Shepard was settled in 
1775; died 1816. And also a num- 
ber of friends. Pop. 892, 

Brettojv-Woods, a township 
in Coos co., lat. 44° 17^ lies at the 
base of the White Mountains, on 
the N. W., having Jefferson and 
Whitefield N., Whitefield and 
Bethlehem \V., and the ungranted 
lands, and Nash and Sawyer's Lo- 
cation on the S. It has a territory 
of 24,640 acres ; and was granted 
Feb. 8, 1772, to Sir Thomas Went- 
worth, Bart. Rev. Samuel Langdon, 
and 81 others. Its surface is un- 
even, and its appearance dreary. 
There are but 19 inhabitants. Pon- 
dicherry mountain lies on the N. 
between this town and Jefferson. 
John's and Israel's rivers receive 
several branches from Bretton- 
Woods ; and the head streams oi 
the Amonoosuck from the surround- 
ing mountains unite in passin 
through the town. 

BridgewAter, a township in 
Grafton county, in lat. 43° 39', was 
originally part of New-Chester, and 
was incorporated Feb. 12, 1788. 
It is bounded N. by Plymouth and 
Hebron, on the E. by Pemigewas- 
set river, dividing it from part of 
Holderness and New-Hampton, c\\ 
the S. by Bristol, and on the Vv . by 
Newfound pond, which separates it 
from Alexandria. Bridgewaler has 



no rivers or ponds deserving notice. 
The soil is well adapted to grazing, 
and few townships in its vicinity 
exceed it in this respect. The May- 
hew turnpike passes thiough the W. 
part, near Newfound pond, and tire 
main road from Concord to Plym- 
outh through the E. part near Pem- 
igewasset river. There is a social 
library, small, but well selected. 
The first settlement was made in 
1766, by Thomas Crawford, Esq. 
when the tract comprised the whole 
of New-Chester, Bridgewater and 
Bristol. He is still living at an 
advanced age. His brother Jona. 
Crawford and several others soon , 
became settlers. A congregational 
church was formed in 1817. Pre- 
vious to this time the members of 
it were in connexion with the one 
at Hebron. There are also baptist 
and freewill baptist churches. Pop. 
727. 

Bristol, post township in the 
S. E. part of Grafton county, in lat. 
43° 35', is bounded N. by Bridge- 
water, E. by Pemigewasset river, 
which separates it from N. Hamp- 
ton, S. by Smith's river, which sep- 
arates it from Nev^-Chester, W. by 
Alexandria; containing 9000 acres, 
exclusive of ponds. It is 90 miles 
from Boston, 16 S. from Plymouth, 
and 30 N. from Concord. The land 
is hilly, but has, in general, a good 
soil. Newfound pond, about 6 miles 
length and from 2 to 3 miles in 
width, lies in this town and in He- 
bron. Its waters are discharged 
through N^vfound river, a stream 
about 2 miles long and 100 feet 
wide, into Pemigewasset river. At 
the confluence of these rivers is a 
pleasant village, having 14 dwel- 
ling Louses, 2 stores, other buiid- 
irgs and a number of valuable mill 
seats. Bristol is connected by a 
toll bridge with New-Hampton. — 
The Mayhew turnpike passes 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



87 



through this to'.vn. Here has latel)' 
been discovered, about 3 miles from 
the village, a large body of plum- 
bago, or black lead, (graphite,) of 
superior excellence. It has been 
examined by Drs. Mitchell and Da- 
na, Professors at New- York and 
Hanover, who pronounce it to be of 
the best kind hitherto discovered in 
our country. The land in which it 
is found, has been purchased by 
Mr. Charles I. Dunbar, of Massa- 
chusetts. Bristol was taken from 
Bridgewater and New-Chester, and 
incorporated June 24, 1819. The 
first settlement was made in 1770, 
by Col. Peter Sleeper, Benj. Em- 
mons and others. There is an in- 
corporated melhodist society. The 
church was formed in June, 1818. 
Pop. 675; polls in 1821, 133. 

Brookfield, township, Straf- 
ford county, lat. 43°32', is bounded 
N. W. by Wolfeborough, E. by 
Wakefield, S. E. by Middleton, the 
line passing in a zig-zag direction 
over Moose mountain, W, by New- 
Durham; and contains 13,000 ac. 
It is 45 miles from Concord, and 90 
from Boston; was originally apart 
of Middleton, from which it was 
separated and incorporated Dec. 
30, 1794. The soil is good. Cook's 
pond, about 1 mile long and 3-4 
mile wide, is the source of the W. 
branch of Salmon-Fall river. There 
is also another small pond, cover- 
ing about 15 acres, directly on the 
top of Moose mountain, which has 
always about the same quantity of 
water, and a variety of fish in it. 
The first settler was Nicholas Aus- 
tin, and Richard Hanson built the 
first framed house— dates unknown. 
There never has been a minister 
settled in town ; but there is a small 
society of baptists. The inhabit- 
ants have a social library. There 
are no manufactories, taverns or 
stores. The number of rateable 
polls is 128. Pop. 740. 



Broorliive, a township on the 
S. line of tlie state, in lat. 42° 44', 
is bounded N. by Milford, E. by 
Hollis, S. by Townsend and Pep- 
perell, in Mass., W. by Mason, 
containing 12,664 acres, 240 of 
which are water. It is 7 miles 
from Amherst, 35 from Concord, 
and 43 from Boston. Nisitissit is 
the only river in Brookline. It ri- 
ses in the N. E. part of Mason ; 
passes through the S. part of Mil- 
ford into Brookline, pursuing a S. 
E. course to Potanipo pond. From 
the pond it runs S. E. to Hollis, 
passing through the S. W. corner 
of that town into Pepperell, where 
it empties into Nashua river. Po- 
tanipo, or Tanapus pond is situated 
near the meeting-house. It is about 
a mile long and one third of a mile 
wide. This town has but few nat- 
ural advantages for its improve- 
ment in wealth and importance. 
The population since 1790 has 
increased more than one third. 
The number of births for 5 years 
were as follows, viz. 1808, 25; 
1809,22; 1810,23; 1811,12; 1812, 
29; total. 111. The number of 
deaths the same years was, in 1808, 
5; 1809, 5; 1810, 8; 1811, 4; 
1812, 5 ; total 27. from which it 
appears, that the births in 1812 ex- 
ceeded the whole number of deaths 
for 5 years. Brookline formerly 
belonged to Massachusetts, and 
was included in the Dunstable 
grant. It was incorporated March 
30, 1769, by the name of Raby. 
In Nov. 1798, the name was alter- 
ed by an act of the legislature 
to Brookline. A congregational 
church v/as formed about the year 
1797. Rev. Lemuel Wadsworth, 
who graduated at Brown Universi- 
ty in 1793, was ordained Oct. 11, 
1797; died Nov. 25, 1817, aged 48. 
Pop. 592. 

BuRNHAM's River S^e Ly 



158 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Burton, a township in Straf- 
ford CO., is in lat. 43° 56', and is 
bounded E. by Conway, S. E. by 
Eaton, S. by Tamworth, N. and W. 
by ungranted lands. It is 12 miles 
long from E. to W., and about 5 in 
width, containing about 36,700 
acres. Distant from Concord, 75 
miles •, from Gilford, 45 ; and 75 
from Portsmouth. The principal 
river is Swift river, which passes 
from W. to E. through Burton, into 
the Saco at Conway. There are 
several small streams in different 
parts of the town, furnishing con 
venient mill privileges. These 
streams were once the residence of 
numbers of the beaver, otter, &c. 
There are several lofty hills and 
mountains in Burton, the highest of 
which is called Chocorua, and is 
visible from a great extent of coun- 
try. It received its name from 



Chocorua, an Indian, who was kil- 
led on the summit by a party of 
hunters in time of peace, before 
the settlement of the place. The 
predominant rock of these hills is 
granite — a soft, decomposing varie 
ty, in which the crystals and grains 
of feldspar are very large, and suf- 
fer a rapid decomposition, by which 
the whole is disintegrated and bro- 
ken down. The loose stones con- 
sist mostly of rolled masses of gran- 
ite, quartz, feldspar, and some spe- 
cimens of hornstone. A bed of 
bog ore of iron is also found here. 
The soil is fertile, being a sandy 
loam, mixed occasionally with 
coarse gravel. There are some fer- 
tile interval lands on the borders of 
the Swift river. The original growth 
here is maple, birch, ash, pine, &c. 
The prosperity of this town has 
been considerably retarded by a pe- 
culiar disease which afilicls neat 
cattle. Young cattle cannot be 
reared, nor can cows or oxen be 
kept here for a series of years, with-[ 



out being attacked by a singular 
and fatal distemper. It commences 
with a loss of appetite — the ani- 
mals refuse hay, grain and salt — 
become emaciated — an obstinate 
costiveness attends, but the abdo- 
men becomes smaller than in health, 
and is diminished to one third its 
original bulk. After these symp- 
toms have continued for an indefi- 
nite period, a brisk scouring comes 
on, and the animals fall away and 
die. Though superstition may have 
found a reason in the dying curse 
of the murdered Chocorua, philoso- 
phy has not yet ascertained a satis- 
factory cause for the disease. It is 
probably owing to the properties 
contained in the waters of Burton. 
This town was granted Nov. 6, 
1766, to Clement March, Joseph 
Senter and others ; it constituted a 
part of Grafton county until Nov. 
27, 1800, when it was annexed to 
the county of Strafford ; and is still 
numbered among those towns in 
this state which have never settled 
a clergyman. Pop. 209. 



CAMBRIDGE, in Coos county, 
lat. 44° 37', is an uninhabited town- 
ship, of 23,160 acres, granted May 
19, 1773, to Nathaniel Rogers and 
others. It is bounded N. by the 
township of Errol and Umbagog 
lake, E. by the state of Maine, 
S. by Success and Paulsburg, and 
W. by Dummer. This tract has 
an uneven surface, but might be 
advantageously cultivated. Sever- 
al streams rise here, and fall into 
the Ameriscoggin, which passes 
through the N. W. part of the 
town. 

Campton, a post-township in 
Grafton county, in lat. 43° 49', is 
bounded N. by Thornton, E. by 
Sandwich, S. by Holderness and 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



89 



Plymouth, W. by Rumney, con-| 
taining 27,892 acres. It is 50 miles i 
from Concord and 75 from Ports- 
mouth. Its surface is broken and 
uneven, abounding with rocky ledg- 
es, and having several mountainous 
tracts. Besides Pemigewasset riv- 
er, running N. and S. through near- 
ly the centre of the town, it is wa- 
tered by Mad and Beebe's rivers, 
which fall into the Pemigewasset 
on the E., and by West Branch riv- 
er and Bog brook on the W. The 
land in the valleys is generally 
good, and there is some good inter- 
val. The high land, when not too 
rocky, is good for grazing. The 
forest trees are mostly deciduous. 
There is some hemlock, pine and 
spruce. No white oak or pitch 
pine is found N. of the centre of 
the town. Iron ore of an inferior 
quality is found in some places. 
There are many orchards, but ap- 
ple-trees decay much sooner than 
in more southern situations. The 
towns of Campton and Rumney 
were both granted in Oct. 1761, 
to Capt. Jabez Spencer of East 
Haddam, Conn., but he dying be- 
fore a settlement was effectetl, his 
heirs, in conjunction with others, 
obtained a new charter, Jan. 5, 
1767. The first settlement was 
jnade in 1765, by two families of 
the names of Fox and Taylor. The 
proprietors held their first meeting 
Nov. 2, 1769, and the inhabitants 
theirs, Dec. 16, 1771. From the 
circumstance of the first proprie- 
tors building a camp when they 
went to survey Campton and Rum- 
ney, this town derives its name. 
In the revolutionary war, this town, 
though in its infancy, furnished 
nine or ten soldiers, five of whom 
died in the service, and three were 
living in 1822. The congregation- 
al church was formed June 1, 1774. 
Rev. Selden Church, who gradua- 
I 



ted at Yale College in 1765, was 
ordained in Oct. 1774; dismissed 
in 1792. Rev. John Webber, who 
graduated at Dartmouth College in 
1792, was installed in Feb. 1812 \ 
dismissed March 12, 1815. Rev. 
Amos P. Brown was ordained Jan. 
1, 1817 ; dismissed in 1822. There 
are some baptists, regular and free- 
will, and some methodists. Pop. 
1047. 

Canaan, post-tow^n in Grafton 
county, in lat. 43° 40', bounded 
N. by Dame's gore, which separates 
it from Dorchester, E. by Orange, 
S. by Enfield, and W. by Hanover. 
It is situated on the height of land 
between the rivers Connecticut 
and Merrimack. It is 16 miles E. 
from Dartmouth College, 30 S. E. 
of Haverhill, 25 S.W. from Plyns- 
outb, and 40 N. W. from Concord. 
Tlie only stream of consequence is 
the Mascomy, which rises in the 
N. W. part of Dorchester, and af- 
ter a meandering course of 8 or 10 
miles, faHs into Mascomy pond in 
Enfield. Indian stream river rises 
in the S. E. corner of Dorchester, 
and running about 8 miles, mingles 
with the waters of Mascomy, near 
the centre of the town. Heart 
pond, so called irom its figure, is 
situated in the centre of the town, 
and upon a swell of land so eleva- 
ted, that at a distance, it presents 
the appearance of a sheet of water 
on a hill. It is about 500 rods in 
length and 200 in width, and the 
only natural cariosity of any note, 
is the mound or bank of earth 
which nearly surrounds this pond. 
It is from 4 to 5 feet high, and from 
its uniform height and regular con- 
struction, would seem to be the 
work of art ; but from frequent an- 
nual observation, it is found to have 
been produced by the drifting of 
the ice when breaking up in the 
spring. Besides this, there are 



90 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Goose,Clark's,Mud and Bear ponds. 
The Grafton turnpike passes with- 
in a few rods of Heart pond, on 
the west shore of which is the 
meeting-house and a pleasant vil- 
lage. The land is not so broken as 
in some of the adjoining towns. 
There is but little not capable of 
cultivation. The soil is tolerably 
fertile, and produces wheat, rye, 
corn, flax, &;c, Canaan was grant- 
ed by charter, July 9, 1761, to 62 
persons, all of whom except ten 
belonged to Connecticut. It de- 
rived its name from Canaan in that 
state. The first permanent settle- 
ment was made in the winter, in 
1766 or 7, by John Scofield, who 
conveyed what effects he possessed 
the distance of 14 miles over a 
crust of snow upon a hand-sled. 
Among others of the first settlers, 
were George Harris, Thomas Mi- 
ner, Joshua Harris, Samuel Jones 
and Samuel Meacham. The first 
proprietors' meeting was holden Ju- 
ly 19, 1768. The first church, 
which was of the baptist denomi- 
nation, was formed in 1780. Rev. 
Thomas Baldwin, D. D. was or- 
dained to the pastoral care of it, in 
1783, and removed to Boston in 
1790. Rev. Joseph Wheat was 
settled in 1813. There is a respec- 
table congregational society, incor- 
porated ill 1820, over which Rev. 
Charles Calkins presides. There 
is also a small society of metho- 
dists. Pop. 1198. Jonathan Dus-j 
ton, a native of Haverhill, Mass., 
a grandson to the intrepid Hannah 
Duston,mentioned under Boscaioen, 
died here, July 4, 1812, aged 93. 

CandiA, post-township, Rock- 
ingham county, was detached from 
the N. part of Chester and incor- 
porated Dec. 17, 1763. It was na- 
med by Governor Benning Went 
worth, who was once a prisoner on 
rhe island of Candia, (the ancient 



Crete) in the Mediterranean sea« 
Candia is in lat. 43°8' — is 6 miles 
long, 4 wide, and contains 15,360 
acres, with 1273 inhabitants. Its 
>ioil is naturally hard of cultivation ; 
but the industry of the inhabitants 
has made it fruitful. It was orig- 
inally covered with a thick growth 
of oak, ash, maple, birch, &c. The 
site of this town is elevated, and 
commands an extensive view of 
the rich scenery of the adjacent 
country — the White Hills, the Wa- 
chusett, and other mountains, the 
lights on Plum-island, and the 
ocean being visible. From its ele- 
vation it probably derives its 
health ; and there are now living 
in the town more than 60 persons 
between 70 and 100 years of age. 
Annual average of deaths for six 
years past, 23. In the W. part of 
the town is a ridge of land extend- 
ing from N. to S. which is the high- 
est elevation between Merrimack 
river and the ocean. On the E. side 
of this ridge, two branches of Lam- 
prey river take their rise. The 
first settler was William Turner, 
who moved into the limits now 
comprising the town in 1748. In 
1755, John Sargent and several 
others commenced settlements. 
This town among others contribu- 
ted largely to the attainment of in- 
dependence ; and the names of 69 
soldiers of the revolution are found 
on its records. Tliere is a res- 
pectable congregational society in 
this town, over whom have been 
settled, Rev. David Jewett in 1771, 
removed 1780 ; Rev. Joseph Prince 
in 1782, removed 1789 ; Rev. Jesse 
Remington in 1790, died in 1815 ; 
Rev. Isaac Jones in 1816, dismissed 
1818. Rev. Abraham Wheeler 
was installed in 1818. There is 
also a society of free-will baptists 
in Candia, and people of other de- 
nominations. Here are 12 schools 



NEW. HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



91 



;during about half the year ; and 
their regulations promise much 
usefulness. There are two social 
libraries ; a moral society ; a fe 
male charitable society, which con 
tributes annually 20 dollars for re 
ligious purposes. The inhabitants 
are mostly industrious farmers, ma 
ny of whom are ^/ealthy. 

Canterbury, a post-town, in 
the county of Rockingham, is 
lat. 43° 21' ; and bounded N. E. by 
Gilmanton, S. E. by Loudon, S. by 
Concord., W. by Merrimack river, 
which divides it from Boscawen, 
and N. by a rid^e called Bean 
Hill, separating the town from 
Northfield. Canterburj', though 
an uneven township, is not moun- 
tainous. The soil is generally 
good ; the more uneven parts af- 
fording excellent pasturage. There 
are no large streams in this town 
but several ponds give rise to smal 
ler streams, furnishing good mill 
sites, and near which are cut great 
quantities of hay. Two bridges 
over the Merrimack connect this 
town with Boscawen. Canterbury 
was granted May 20, 1727, to Rich- 
ard Waldron and others ; and for- 
merly comprehended Northfield 
and Loudon. It now contains an 
area of 26,345 acres. The town 
was settled soon after the grant 
was obtained ; and for a long time 
the inhabitants were exposed to the 
inroads of the savages. The hus- 
bandman cleared and tilled his land 
under the protection of a guard, 
uncertain whether the seed he com- 
mitted to the ground might not be 
watered by his blood, or that of an 
enemy. In 1738, two men of the 
names of Shepherd and Blanchard,| 
going a short distance from the 
garrison then kept in town, were 
surprised by a party of seven In- 
dians, who rose from behind a log 
fioi more than two rods from them, 



and all fired upon them, but with- 
out effect. Shepherd and his com- 
rade then fired upon their assail- 
ants, but to no purpose. Shspherd 
then made his escape ; while Blan- 
chard, less fortunate, fell into tlie 
hands of the Indians, who wound- 
ed and mangled him in such a 
manner that he survived but a few 
days. During the French and In- 
dian war, the latter made several 
attempts upon the inhabitants of 
this town. At one time they en- 
tered the house of Thomas Clough ; 
and finding no one within, they 
pilfered some of its contents. A 
negro belonging to Clough, and a 
lad of the name of Jackman, be- 
ing at work not far distant, the In- 
dians made them captives, and took 
them to Canada, where they re- 
mained till the close of the war, in 
1749. Jackman was recently liv- 
ing in Boscawen. In April, 1752, 
two Indians, named Sabatis and 
Christi, came into Canterbury, 
where they were hospitably enter- 
tained by the inhabitants for more 
than a month. At their departure, 
they forced away two negroes, one 
of whom made his escape, and re- 
turned. The other was taken to 
Crown Point, and there sold to an 
officer. The next year, Sabatis, 
with another Indian, called Plau- 
sawa, returned to Canterbury ; 
where, being reproached for mis- 
conduct on his former visit, Sabatis 
and his companion behaved in a 
very insolent manner. Much ex- 
citement was produced against 
them. Some persons treated them 
freely wiih strong drink 5 one pur- 
sued them into the woods, and ta- 
king advantage of their situation, 
killed them, and, assisted by anoth- 
er person, buried them. They 
were so slightly buried, however, 
that their bodies were dug up by 
beasts of prey, and their bones 



92 



NEVV-HAMPSKTRE GAZETTEER. 



lay upon the ground. The two 
men concerned in the murder of 
these Indians belonged to Salisbii- 
r}' ; where they were soon after 
apprehended iind carried to Ports- 
mouth for trial. A bill was found 
against them by the grand jury, 
and they were confined in irons ; 
but on the night previous to their 
appointed trial, an armed mob from 
the country, with axes and bars, 
forced the prison and carried them 
off in triumph. Exertions were 
made to detect the ringleaders of 
the mob, but without effect. Al- 
though the people of Canterbury 
x-rere occasionally supplied with 
preaching from the earliest settle- 
ment of the place, no church was 
formed until 1761 ; when the Rev. 
Abiel Foster was ordained ; he 
was dismissed in 1779. Rev. Fred- 
erick Parker v.'as ordained in 1791, 
and died in 1802. Rev. William 
Patrick \va.s ordained in Oct. 1803 1 
— at which time the church con-j 
sisted of about 20 male, and 40 j 
female members : it has since con-j 
siderably increased. Elder lVin-\ 
throp Young was settled over the 
free-will baptist society in 1793. 
The Hon. Abiel Foster de- 
serves a particular notice. He 
possessed in a great degree the es- 
teem jind confidence of the people : 
and soon after he left the pastoral 
care of the church, he was called 
to arduous duties as a magistrate 
and legislator. In 1783, lie war 
elected to Congress ; and for three 
years v/as a member of that body 
under tlie old confederation. He 
was successively returned a mem- 
ber for nearly all the time until 
1804 ; when he retired to private 
life and domestic tranquillity. He 
was an ardent lover of his coun- 
try ; and faithfully served his con- 
stituents—by whom his memory 
will long be cherished. He died 



in Feb. 1806. Canterbury, from 
its elevated situation, has ever been 
a healthy town. The average 
number of deaths for the last 12 
years has been 17 ; greatest num- 
ber in any one year, 24 ; least, 9. 
Pop. in 1820, 1696. 

Shakers' Village. — In the S. E. 
part of this town, on an elevated 
and beautiful site, is the village of 
the " Shakers" — a sect of chris- 
tians first known in this CG«ntry in 
1774, when ^nn Lee, tiie founder 
of the sect, with several others, ar- 
rived at New- York from Liverpool, 
The church at Canterbury was 
gathered in the year 1792, under 
the ministration of Elder Job Bish- 
op, vrho is still then miiirister; al- 
though the society first embraced 
their religious faith about ten years 
previous to that time. At present 
it consists of more than two hun- 
dred members. They have a meet- 
ing-house open at all times of pub- 
lic worship, where any discreet 
and decent spectator is allowed to 
attend. They have a Deacons' of- 
fice, where all their public business 
is transacted, and where strangers 
are at first received on their visits 
to the society. They have also 
nine dwelling houses, of two and 
three stories, and several work- 
shops both for men and women. 
Their mills and various kinds of 
machinery are moved by water on 
an artificial stream. They manu- 
facture many articles for sale, 
which are remarkable for neatness 
and durability. Their gardens 
are perhaps the most productive of 
any in the country : and indeed 
all their improved lands exhibit 
the pleasing effects of industry and 
rural economy. They have for 
years supplied this section of the 
state with garden seeds, and take 
much pains to propagate those of 
jrhe best kind. They occupy more 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



93 



than 1500 acres of land, lying prin- 
cipally in a body, which they have 
' consecrated to the Lord,' and 
which they enjoy in common. 
They cheerfully pay their propor- 
tion of the public taxes, and share 
all the burthens of government, ex- 
cept the bearing of arms, which 
they deem to be contrary to the 
gospel ; and in return they claim 
from government only that protec- 
tion and support guaranteed to 
other citizens. The income of 
their manufactures, together with 
their agricultural products, yields 
their temporal support ; and what 
they become possessed of more 
than is necessary to their wants, 
they devote to charitable purposes, 
agreeably to their church covenant. 
Fifty-six persons, old and young, 
have departed this life in the soci- 
ety since it was first organized — a 
period of forty years. This num- 
ber is small, in comparison with 
the mortality of other parts of the 
state ; and furnishes strong proof 
how much temperate habits tend 
10 prolong life. It should be men- 
tioned as a practice highly credit- 
able to this sect, that the members 
of their societies never make use 
of ardent spirits except in cases of 
sickness, being aware of the evils 
intemperance brings upon society. 
Another practice not unworthy of 
imitation is, they refuse to be trust- 
ed even in the smallest sum, Tliey 
transact their secular concerns with 
much probity and uprightness ; and 
though they may have suffered re- 
proach from their singularity of 
life and manners, they have be- 
come a proverb for industry, jus- 
tice and benevolence. The pecu- 
liar doctrines of this sect, which 
have often been misrepresented, 
are noticed in vol i. Historical Col- 
lections, to which the reader is re- 
ferred. 

12 



-See 



See 



Cape Horn, mountain. 
JVorthumberland. 

Cardigan, a mountain. 
Orange. 

Carr's Mountain. See Ells- 
worth. 

Carter's Mountain — be- 
tween Adams and Chatham. 

Catamount, mountain. See 
Pittsfield. There is also a hill of 
this name in Allenstown. 

Centre-Harbor, post-town, 
Strafford county, lat. 43° 41', is sit- 
uated between Winnepisiogee and 
Squam lakes, bounded N. E. by 
Moultonborough, S. E. by Mere- 
dith, S. W. by New-Hampton, N. 
W. lay Holderness and Squam lake. 
It has an area of 7,550 acres, and 
is distant 40 miles from Concord, 
70 from Portsmouth, and HO from 
Boston. Measley pond and Squam 
lake are partly in this town ; the 
latter furnishes fine trout, and has 
several islands valuable for gra- 
zing. The soil is very good, most- 
ly a rich loam. The original 
growth is oak, maple, beech, birch 
and pine. The town is pleasantly 
situated, and its lo6al position prob- 
ably gave rise to its name. The 
first settlements v^^ere made by Eb- 
enezer Chamberlain in 1765, and 
Col. Joseph Senter, in 1767. A 
congregational church was formed 
here in 1815, over vihich Rev. 
David Smith was ordained 1819. 
There are portions of the inhalii- 
tants of other denominations. Pop. 
486. 

Chadbourne and Hart's 
Location, in the county of Coos, 
s a narrow tract on both sides the 
river Saco, extending from the 
notch of the White Mountains to a 
tract granted to Mr. Royse — it con- 
tains 3446 acres. The grant was 
made April 27, 1772, to Thomas 
Chadbourne and George Hart of 
Portsmouth. The tenth N. H, 



94 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



turnpike passes through this tract 
iVofii the Notch to the town of 
Bartlett. Pop. 65. 

Charl,E9-town, a post-town- 
ship, and one of the shire towns in 
Cheshire county, is situated on 
Connecticut river, in lat. 43° 15', 
and is bounded N. by Clareraont, 
E. by Unity and Acworth, S. by 
Langdon and Walpole, and W. by 
the W. bank of Connecticut river, 
on which it extends about 13 miles. 
It contains an area of 21,400 acres. 
It is 61 miles fiom Concord, 100 
from Boston, 100 from Albany, 110 
from Hartford, Conn, and 18 miles 
from Windsor, Vt. The only riv- 
ers in Chavlestown, are the Con- 
necticut and Little Sugar rivers. 
In the former, there are three isl- 
ands within the limits of this town, 
the largest of which contains about 
ten acres and is called Sartwell's 
island. The others contain about 
six acres each, and have a rich 
loamy soil. Sartwell's island is 
under a high cultivation. There 
are no falls in this river within the 
limits of Charlestown, which in 
terrupt the boat navigation, al 
though some little inconvenience 
is experienced in low water from 
\vhat are called " Sugar river bars." 
Little Sugar river waters the north 
part of Charlestown and empties 
■'into Connecticut river about two 
miles south of the S. line of Clare- 
mont. This town has but few fac- 
tory or mill privileges. The soil 
is extremely various. West of 
the great road leading from Wal 
pole to Claremont, are not less 
than 1500 acres of fine interval 
land, generally of a deep, rich and 
loamy soil, and favorable for the 
culture and growth of most of the 
various kinds of grass and grain. 
In the east and northeast parts of 
the town, the soil of the upland is 
good — the natural growth of wood, 



consisting principally of birch, 
beech, oak, maple and hemlock. 
There is a ridge of hard, broken, 
and in sotae parts stony, land, east 
of the river road, extending almost 
the v/hole length of the town, and 
which is considered unfit for settle- 
ments. The south part of the 
town appears to have a different 
soil, and is favorable for yielding 
the lighter grains. The practical 
farmers here, for several years past, 
have used annually not less than 
30 tons of plaster of Paris. It is 
generally applied with much bene- 
fit to interval lands. The agricul- 
tural products in 1820, were 25,- 
000 lbs. of butter, 36,000 lbs. of 
cheese, 175,000 lbs. of beef, 180,- 
000 lbs. of pork, 5000 lbs. of flax, 
and 895 barrels of cider. Charles- 
town contains two parishes, which 
are divided by a line running from 
Cheshire Bridge S. 87° E. to the 
corner of Acworth and Unity. In 
the south parish, there is a hand- 
some village, delightfully situated, 
at the distance of about half a 
mile from Connecticut river, and 
parallel with it. It contains an 
elegant brick meeting-house erec- 
ted in 1820, 70 feet by 60, and 32 
in height, a court house and 56 
dwelling houses, built with much 
taste and arranged with regularity. 
— In the north parish is a meeting 
house and a small village. There 
are 13 school districts, in whicii 
has been annually expended for 
the last ten years ^800, for the in- 
struction of about 500 scholars. 
In each parish is a social library. 
That in the south parish was in- 
corporated in 1812, and contains 
above 250 volumes ; that in the 
north parish was incorporated in 
1818, and is but small. Ciieshire 
bridge, about two miles N. of the 
S. meeting-house, coninrects this 
town with Springfield, Vt. From 



NEW-HAMPSHIllE GAZETTEER. 



95 



this bridge, Cheshire turnpike leads 
southerly through the principal 
village to Keene. Charlestown 
turnpike passes from this village 
through Acworth, and intersects 
the 2d N. H. turnpike in Lenipster. 
Charlestown was granted by Mas- 
sachusetts, Dec. 31, 1735, by the 
name of JVumber 4, which is some- 
times applied to it at the present 
day. The grantees, 63 in number, 
belonged to Northampton, Hadley, 
Hatfield, Deerfield and Sunderland 
in Massachusetts. Their first meet- 
ing was hoiden at Hatfield, April 
5, 1737. The first settlers were 
several families by the name of 
Parker, Farnswonh, and Sartwell 
from Groton, Mass. The next 
were the families by the name of 
Hastings from Lunenburg, and Ste- 
vens from Rutland. In 1743, a fort 
was built under the direction of 
Col. Stoddard of Northampton. In 
1744, the first mills were erected. 
In l74o, they were burnt by the 
Indians, and were rebuilt in 1751. 
The Cape Breton war began in 
1744. This town being more than 
thirty miles from any settlement 
suffered severely. In 1747, the 
inhabitants were compelled to aban- 
don the town. In April of the 
same year, Capt. Stevens ovas or- 
dered by Gov. Shirley to occupy 
the fort with thirty men to defend 
tlie frontiers. The boundary line 
between this province and Massa- 
chusetts was settled in 1741, and 
Charlestown was located in N. H. 
On the 2d July, 1753, No. 4 was in- 
corporated by the name of Charles- 
town. The charter was granted 
by Gov. Benning Wentworthto Jo- 
seph Wells, Phinehas Stevens and 
others who were purchasers under 
the old grantees. In 1754, the 
French wav commenced — and the 
inhabitants were obliged to take up 
their residence in the fort. In 1768, 



Mr. Samuel Stevens was the first 
wlio was chosen representative 
to the general court. The first 
meeting-house was built the same 
year. In 1771, Charlestown was 
made one of tlie shire towns of 
Cheshire county. In 1781, a num- 
ber of towns on tiie west of Con- 
necticut river seceded from New- 
Hampshire and joined Vermont, 
and one of the legislative sessions 
of the new state was hoi den at 
Charlestown. The Indian depre- 
dations on this town demand a few- 
notices. The first settlers of 
Charlestown, like the first inhabi- 
tants of almost every frontier town 
in New-England, were, prior to 
1760, the victims of savage cruel- 
ty. For twenty years after the 
first settlement, their neighbors on 
the N. were the French in Canada, 
on the W. the Dutch, near the 
Hudson, on the E. the settlements 
on Merrimack river, and on the S. 
few were found until arrived at 
Northfiekl in Massachusetts, a dis- 
tance of more than 40 miles. The 
Indians were at peace but a small 
portion of that time. From their 
infancy, the settlers had been fa- 
miliar with danger and haJ acquir- 
ed a hardihood unknown to poster- 
ity. Vrhen they attended public 
worship, or cultivated their lands, 
they sallied from the fort prepared 
for battle, and worshipped or la- 
bored under the protection of a 
sentinel. In their warfare, the In- 
dians preferred prisoners to scalps, 
and few were killed but those who 
attempted to escape, or appeared 
too formidable to be encountered 
with success. The Indians, made 
their first hostile appearance in 
No. 4, April 19, 1746, when the 
mills- were burnt and John Spaf- 
ford, Isaac Parker and Stephen 
Farnswortli were taken prisoners 
and carried to Canada. May 4th, 



06 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



the same year, Seth Putnam was 
killed; and on the 24th of the 
same month, a company under 
Capt. Paine, from the S. part of 
Worcester county, arrived for the 
defence of the place. A part of 
the soldiers had the curiosity to 
view the spot 'vvhere the unfortu- 
nate Putnam fell. The Indians 
rushed between them and the fort, 
and five w^re killed. August 3, 
1746, a man by the name of Phil- 
lips v/as killed. In Nov., the town 
was deserted except by six men, 
who kept the fort until winter, and 
then left it. In the month of 
March, Capt. Stevens, with 30 men, 
took possession of the fort and de- 
fended it against the attack of 400 
French and Indians. — June 17, 
1749, Obadiah Sartwell was killed 
while ploughing, and Enos Stevens, 
a boy, son of Capt. Stevens, was 
taken prisoner. On the 29lh of 
August, 1754, the Indians made 
their first appearance after the 
commencement of the French war. 
At early dawn, they attacked the 
house of Mr. James Johnson, who, 
with his wife, her sister and three 
children, and two men, Peter Lab- 
arree and Ebenezer Farnsworth, 
lodgers in the house, were taken 
prisoners. On the 2d day, about 
15 miles from Charlestown, in the 
wilderness, Mrs. Johnson was de- 
livered of a daughter, whom she 
named Captive, who afterwards 
married Col. George Kimball. Of 
the suff"erings, detentions and re- 
lease of Mrs. Johnson, a minute 
account has long been before the 
public, and has lately been re-pub- 
Ushed in the Historical Collections, 
for 1822. In 1756, Lieut. " Moses 
Willard, the father of Mrs. John- 
son, was killed. He was at work 
within sight of the fort with his 
son Moses. Him the Indians pur- 
sued and wounded with a spear. 



He made his escape, carrjing the 
spear with him into the fort. He 
lived respected until Aug. 17, 1822, 
when he was gathered to his fathers, 
aged 84 years. In 1757, the mills 
were again burnt, and Sampson 
Colefax, David Farnsworth and 
Thomas Adams were taken prison- 
ers. In 1758, Asahel Stebbins 
was killed, his wife, Isaac Parker 
and a soldier were captured. Sept. 
8, 1760, Joseph Willard, his wife 
and children, were taken prison- 
ers. After a march of a few miles, 
their infant child was destroyed. 
Mr. Willard was son of Rev. Mr. 
Willard of Rutland, Ms. who was 
killed by the Mlians. It is be- 
lieved that this was among the last 
depredations of the Indians in 
New-England. The prisoners ta- 
ken from Charlestown were all car- 
ried to Canada by lake Champlain, 
and sold to the French. Nearly 
all of them were redeemed by gov- 
ernment or their friends. The first 
child born in Charlestown was 
Elizabeth, the daughter of Isaac 
Parker; — she was born 1744 ; died 
in 1806, aged 62. Charlestown 
has been favored with a number of 
eminent men, a few of whom will 
be mentioned. Capt. Phinehas 
SteveI?.? was one of the first set- 
tlers. The town, when in its in- 
fancy, was protected by his intre- 
pidity. He was a native of Sud- 
bury, Mass. from whence his fa- 
ther removed to Rutland. At the 
age of 16, while his father was ma- 
king hay, he, with three little broth- 
ers followed him to the meadows. 
They were ambushed by the In- 
dians, who killed two of his broth- 
ers, took him prisoner and were 
preparing to kill his youngest broth- 
er, a child four years old. He, by 
signs to the Indians, made them un- 
derstand if they would spare him, 
he would carry him on his back — 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



97 



and he carried him to Canada, n 
They were redeemed and both re-lj 
turned. He received several com-'l 
missions from Gov. Siiirley, andjj 
rendered important services in pro-lj 
tecling the frontiers. In 1747, ij 
when Charlestown was abandonedji 
()}- the inhabitants. Ire was ordered :| 
ft) occup}- the fort with 30 men.ij 
On the 4th of April, he was attack- ij 
ed by 400 French and Indians, un-jj 
der ^lons. Debeline. The assauitjj 
lasted three days. Indian strata- 
gem and French skill, with fire ap- 
plied to every combustible about 
the foit, had not the desired effect. 
The heroic band were not appal-; 
led. They refused to capitulate.. 
At length an interview between the ! 
commanders took place. Thej 
Frenclmian shewed his forces and' 
described the horrid massacre that! 
must ensue unless the fort was sur-| 
rendered. " My men are not afraid! 
to die." was the answer made byj 
Capt. Stevens. The attack con-] 
tinned with increased fury until the i 
end of the third day. when the en-.! 
emy returned to Canada, and left j 
Capt. Stevens in possession of the j 
fort. Capt. Stevens, for his gal-i 
lantry on this occasion, was presen- ! 
ted by Sir Charles Knowles with ; 
an elegant sword, and from this | 
circumstance the township, when j 
it was incorporated, took tire name 
of CharJestown. Capt. Stevens 
died in Nov. 1756, in the service of 
liis country. Samuel Stevens, Esq. 
the only surviving son of this brave ] 
man was the first representative, 
of the town to the general court,; 
and is at the age of 87 years, the J! 
present register of probate for^ 
Cheshire count}'. Col. William I 
Heywood. who was one of the i' 
ten males of the congregational • 
church formed in 1761, filled the j 
office of town clerk 42 years : liv- j 
ed to an advanced age and died in|! 



Feb. 1803. Col. SAMrEL Hr:vT, 
an active military officer in ihe 
French and revolutionary wars, 
settled here in 1759, and was sher- 
iff of the county till his death in 
1779. Hon. SlMEOS Olcott, 
who graduated at Yale College 
in 1761, commenced the practice 
of law in tiiis town. He was chief 
justice of the court of common 
pleas, and of the superior court, 
and senator in Congress from 1801 
to 1805. He died in 1815, aged 
79. Hon. Bexjamix "West, son 
of Rev. Thomas West, and broth- 
er of Rev. Dr. Samuel West 
of Boston, resided here more than 
40 years. He was born April 8, 
1746, gi-aduated at Harvard Col- 
lege in 1763, settled here in the 
practice of law in 1772, and died 
in July, 1817, aged 71. At the bar, 
he ranked among the first of his 
profession. His application, learn- 
ing and integrity gave him great 
and merited influence. The eccle- 
siasucal history is brief. The first 
minister was Rev. John Dennis, 
who, on account of the Indian war, 
was ordained at Northfield, Mass. 
Dec. 4, 1754. He was dismissed 
March 31, 1758. Rev. Bulkier 
Olcott, who graduated at Yale Col- 
lege in 1.753. was ordained May 
28, 1761, about which time the 
church was re-organized or a new 
one formed. He died June 26, 
1792. Rev. Dan Foster, though 
not ordained here, supplied the 
pulpit from 1796 to his death, in 
1809. Rev. Jaazaniah Crosby 
was ordained Oct. 17, 1810. The 
north parish has no church formed. 
Fop. 2110. 

CHATHA3f, township, Coos CO. 
in lat. 44^^ 8', is situated on the E. 
side of the White Mountains, and 
adjoining the line which divides 
this state from Maine. It has Con- 
way on the S.. Baitletl and Adams 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



pn the W., Mount Royse on the 
N. Chatham was granted to Peter 
Livius and others, Feb. 7, 1767 ; 
it now contains, in addition to its 
original territory, what was former- 
ly called Warner's location — in 
all about 26,000 acres. There are 
several ponds in Chatham, and 
some considerable streams. The 
surface is mountainous and rocky, 
and can never sustain a great pop- 
ulation. Between Chatham and 
Adams, Carter's mountain rises so 
high as to prevent the opening a 
road between the two towns; so 
that in holding an intercourse with 
the rest of the county, the inhab- 
itants are obliged to pass through 
part of the state of Maine. Pop. 
298. 

Chester, a post-township of 
Rockingham county.in lat. 42° 59', 
is bounded N. and E. by Raymond, 
Candia and Hooksett, E. by Poplin 
and Sandown, S. by Londonderry, 
and W. by Manchester. Its great- 
est length is about 12 miles ; its 
greatest breadth is aboiit 6 1-2 
xiiiles, and its least breadth, but lit- 
tle exceeds two. It is distant 17 
miles from Exeter, and 30 from 
Portsmouth ; 17 from Haverhill, and 
43 from Boston; 23 from Amherst, 
and 23 from Concord. A branch of 
Exeter river, called "The Branch," 
flows through the N.E. part of Ches- 
ter, beside which, there is no stream 
deserving mention. Massabesick 
pond is the largest body of fresh 
water in the county, and contains 
about 1500 acres. It consists of two 
nearly equal parts, each about 3 
miles in length, and from 200 to 400 
rods in breadth, united by a strait of 
about 250 rods in length, which is 
at one point so narrow, that the 
Londonderry turnpike passes it by 
a bridge. The line between this 
town and Manchester passes more 
than 2 miles through the westerly 



half of this pond. A considerable 
portion of this town possesses a 
good soil, and many of the large 
swells yield in fertility to none in 
the state. There are several large 
and valuable meadows. In this town 
are tv/o caves, sometimes visited by 
strangers. That which was earliest 
noticed, is situated in Mine hill, 
near the east ».de of Massabesick 
pond, on the old road from Chester 
to Concord. The entrance is about 
5 feet high and 2 1-2 wide. The 
cavern extends into the hill in a 
northern direction about 80 feet, of 
sufficient dimensions to admit a per- 
son to pass. Its form is very irreg- 
ular, and its height and breadth 
various, from 2 to 12 feet and even 
more. After dividing into several 
branches, it is gradually lost in nu- 
merous small crevices in the rocks, 
which appear to be gneiss, and 
which possess in some parts a slight 
taste of alum. The other is in the 
westerly side of Rattlesnake hill, in 
the S. W. part of the town, in a 
ledge of coarse granite, nearly 40 
feet high. It has two entrances. 
The north entrance is about 11 
feet high and 4 broad. The width 
of the cave then increases gradual- 
ly for about 15 feet, where its height 
is 3, and its breadth from 6 to 12 
feet. Its direction there changes to 
the right, and its width varies from 

5 1-2 to 9 feet, and its height from 

6 to 7, to the other entrance which 
is about 7 feet high and 9 wide. Its 
whole length is about 35 feet. Plum- 
bago or black lead is found in this 
town of good quality and in con- 
siderable abundance. Native sul- 
phur is also found in small quanti- 
ties, imbedded in tremolite. Gran- 
ite and gneiss are the prevailing 
rocks, and handsome specimens 
of graphic granite are sometimes 
found. The village in this town 
has about 35 dwelling houses, and a 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



99 



meeting-house, beside otVier build- 1 
ings, stores, fee, standing chiefly on ! 
a long street. It is the principal place 
of business in this part of the coun- 
ty, and is situated on an elevated 
rise, and commands one of the most 
extensive prospects in New-Eng- 
land. From this hill, the ocean, 
though more than 20 miles distant, 
may, in a clear day, be distinctly 
seen. There are in this town two 
meeting-houses, one for congrega- 
tionalists, erected in 1773, and fur- 
nished with a town-clock and a 
bell, and one for presbyterians, 
erected about 1735, but since much 
enlarged. The schools are usually 
taught here from 5 to 8 months in 
each year. A social library was 
incorporated in 1798, and contains 
about 325 volumes, many of which 
are well selected and valuable 
works. The Chester turnpike ex- 
tends about 15 miles from the vil- 
lage in Chester to Pembroke street. 
The mail passes and repasses three 
times in each week, and stages dai- 
ly, on these roads from Concord to 
Boston. A weekly mail from Brat- 
tleborough, Vt. to Portsmouth, pas- 
ses through this town. In October, 
1719, about 80 persons, chiefly from 
Hampton and Portsmouth, asso- 
ciated for the purpose of obtaining 
a grant of a township in the "Ches- 
nut country" — placed three men on 
the land to keep possession, and pe- 
titioned for a grant. After some 
difficulty, they obtained a grant of 
a tract of land ten miles, square, 
Aug. 26, 1720. The settlement was 
immediately commenced by several 
persons from Rye and Hampton — 
of whom Samuel Ingalls, Jonathan 
Goodhue, Jacob Sargent, Ebenezer 
Dearborn, Robert Smith, B. and E. 
Colby, John and S. Robie, seem to 
have been most active and useful; 
and by several families which had 
recent) v emigrated from the north 



of Ireland. From 1722 to 1726, the 
settlement was retarded by an In- 
dian war. The Indians, however, 
did no injury to this town, except 
that they took Thomas Smith and 
John Carr, who, after travelling a- 
bout 30 miles into the Vt'oods, made 
their escape while the Indians were 
asleep, and arrived in safety at a 
garrison in Londonderry. Several 
garrison houses were maintained in 
this town till after the peace of 1749. 
On the 8th of May, 1722, the town, 
which had previously been called 
Cheshire, was incorporated by its 
present name. The charter includ- 
ed more than 120 square miles of 
territory. The first meeting under 
it was holden March 28, 1723. Un- 
til 1728, the town meetings were 
usually holden in one of the old 
towns in the province, and almost 
all the town officers, thdugh propri- 
etors, were not inhabitants of the 
town. Until 1735, the business of 
the town and of the proprietary 
was transacted at the town meet- 
ings. Separate meetings were after- 
wards holden. In 1729, the town 
voted to erect a meeting-house, 
which was so far completed, that 
the town meetings were afterwards 
usually holden in it. In the follow- 
ing year, they settled Rev. Moses 
Hale, who was removed in 1734. 
In this year, the first settlers, who 
were presbyterians, formed a socie- 
ty and settled Rev. John Wilson, 
after the rules of the Kirk of Scot- 
land. In 1738, they erected a meet- 
ing-house. They resisted every at- 
tempt to settle a congregational 
minister, and after the settlement 
of Rev. Ebenezer Flagg, which oc- 
curred in 1736, many of them re- 
fused payment of their taxes for 
his support. Two of them, James 
Campbell, and John Tolford, were 
arrested by the collector and com- 
mitted to jail in Exeter. After a 



100 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



tedious lawsuit, they obtained a 
decision in their favor, and in 1740, 
the two congregations were author- 
ised to hold separate meetings wrth 
corporate powers. Rev. Mr. Flagg, 
of the congregational church died 
Nov. 14, 1796. Rev. Nathan Brad- 
street had been settled as colleague 
in 1793, and resigned in 1818. Rev. 
Joel R. Arnold succeeded March 
8, 1820. Rev. Mr. Wilson, of the 
presbylerian church, died Feb. 1, 
1779 : he was born in the county 
of Ulster, in the N. of Ireland — to 
which his ancestors had emigrated 
from Scotland. He came to Amer- 
ica in 1729, and preached 45 years 
to his church. After his death the 
church was vacant 24 years. Rev. 
Zaccheus Colby was installed Oct. 
13, 1803, removed in 1809 ; and was 
succeeded by Rev. Clement Parker 
Feb. 19, 1817. A baptist church 
was organized in Cliester, Dec. 16, 
1819. In 1740 the first school- 
house was built. In 1748, Capt. 
Abel Morse was chosen the first 
representative. In 1750, it was 
voted, that the S. W. part of the 
town should be set off with a part 
of Londonderry and the land next 
Amoskeag into a separate parish, 
which was incorporated in 1751 by 
the name of Derryjield. In 1753, 
the W. part of the town was set 
off as a distinct parish, and has 
been since known as the Long- 
Meadows. In 1762, that part of 
the town called Charmingfare was 
set off as a parish, and in the year 
following was incorporated by the 
name of Candia. 1763, the north 
parish, or Freetown, was set off as 
a parish or town, and in 1765, incor- 
porated by the name of Raymond. 
In 1822, a part of Chester was dis- 
annexed with other tracts to form 
the town of Hooksett — reducing 
the population to 1946. The abo- 
rigines had a settlement of 10 or 



12 wigwams, on an island in Mas- 
sabesick pond, vestiges of which, 
it is said, may still be seen. — The 
throat distemper, which prevailed 
in 1735, and which proved mortal 
in 21 cases, is the only dangerous 
epidemic with which this town has 
been visited. The first child of 
English parents born in this place 
was a daughter of Samuel Ingalls ; 
she died recently in Candia aged 
over 90 years. John Sargent was 
the first boy born here ; he died 
in Candia between 70 and 80 years 
of age. The first framed house 
erected in this town, is still stand- 
ing and is now occupied as a tavern. 
Many of the first settlers lived to 
a very great age. 

Chesterfield, a post-town- 
ship in Cheshire county, in lat. 42° 
53', is bounded N. by Westmore- 
land, E. by Keene and Svvanzey, 
S. by Winchester and Hinsdale, 
W. by Brattleborough and Dum- 
merston, Vt. containing 29,437 
acres. It is 11 miles from Keene, 
65 from Concord, and 90 from Bos- 
ton. This town is generally hilly 
and uneven. Few towns on Con- 
necticut river have so little inter- 
val land. For the whole six miles 
that it lies upon the river, the hills 
approach near the river's side. 
There is much good upland, well 
adapted for grazing, and the pro- 
duction of Indian corn. The chief 
articles carried to market are beef, 
pork, butter and cheese. Connec- 
ticut river passes through the wes- 
tern bounds of Chesterfield. Cat's- 
Bane brook is a stream of great 
importance, as it furnishes many 
mill seats. Spafford's lake is a 
beautiful collection of water, situ- 
ated about one mile N. of the 
meeting-house. It is about 8 miles 
in circumference, containing a sur- 
face of 526 acres. It is fed by 
springs in its bosom. Its waters 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEE^l. 



101 



are remarkably clear and pure, its 
bed being a white sand. In this 
lake, there is an island of about 
six acres, which forms a delightful 
retreat for students of the acade- 
my in the summer. 0« its E. side 
issues a stream called Partridge's 
brook, sufficiently large to carry the 
machinery of a cotton factory, 
sawmills, &;c. The factory has 
800 spindles. Forty looms, opera- 
ted by water, have been lately 
built. West river mountain lies in 
this town and Hinsdale. It is sup- 
posed to have been once subject to 
a volcanic eruption, and there is 
at present a considerable quantity 
of lava near its crater. Some of 
the early inhabitants perceiving an 
aperture in the mountain, and sup- 
posing it led to a silver mine, ob- 
tained a lease of that part which 
contained the supposed mine. The 
lease requires the lessees to dig, at 
least three days in each year, that 
it may not become void. At this 
time, they have dug principally 
through a rock between 90 and 100 
feet, following the course of the 
crater downward. It is said by 
those who live near the mountain, 
that it frequently trembles, and a 
rumbling noise is heard in its bow- 
els. Chesterfield has three villa- 
ges. The principal one, through 
which the stage road passes, lead- 
ing from Hartford to Hanover, is 
situated near the centre of the town 
and 3 miles E. of Connecticut 
river. Here are several dwelli/ig 
houses, the meeting-house and a 
flourishing academy, which was 
opened Aug. 14, 1794. It has no 
funds, but the school has continued 
every year since it commenced, un 
der the direction of a preceptor 
and 11 trustees. Until within a 
few years, this was the only acade- 
my in Cheshire county. Chester 
field was granted Feb. 11, 1752, to 



12 persons of the name of Wil- 
lard and 52 others. The first set- 
tlement was made Nov. 25, 1761, 
on the banks of the Connecticut 
by Moses Smith and William 
Thomas, with their families. The 
next spring, Abel Emmons and Si- 
mon Davis moved into town. At 
that period, the river afforded abun- 
dance of shad and salmon, and the 
forests were well stocked with deer, 
bears and other game, so that the in- 
habitants did not experience those 
privations so common in the new 
settlements on the E. The first 
child born in town was Mary Thom- 
as — born in 1762, and is now liv- 
ing. The congregational church 
was formed in 1771. Rev. Abra- 
h-am Wood, who graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1767, was ordained 
Dec. 31, 1772. He is the oldest 
minister in New-Hampshire. There 
is a baptist society, incorporated 
June 21, 1819; also a universalist 
society, incorporated June 22, 
1818. Mrs. Hannah Bayley, wid- 
ow of Josiah Bayley, formerly of 
Lunenburg, Ms. died here in Nov. 
1822, aged 104 years and 3 months. 
Hon. Levi Jackson, who was for 
several years a representative and 
senator in the legislature, and a 
member of the executive council 
in 1816 and 1817, was a native of 
this town. He was born June 29, 
1772, graduated at Dartmouth Col- 
lege in 1799, and died Aug. 30, 
1821, aged 49. He was six years 
preceptor of the academy. Pop. 
2110. 

CHICHE.STER, post-town, Rock- 
ingham county, lat 43° 15', is situ- 
ated 8 miles E. of Concord ; boua- 
ded N.E. by Pittsfield, S.E. by Ep- 
som, S. W. by Pembroke, N.W. by 
Loudon and a part of Concord, and 
comprises 11,978 acres. It was 
granted May 20, 1727 to Nathan- 
iel Gookin and others ; but the 



102 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



settlement was not commenced un- 
til 1758, when Paul Morrill settled 
in the woods. The soil is good, 
and richly repays the cultivator — 
there is little waste land, nor are 
there any considerable elevations. 
Bear hill in the N. part of the 
town, which is covered with a cul- 
tivated soil, is the principal emi 
nence. The E. of the town is 
v/atered by the Suncook river, 
which affords its mill seats and 
some productive interval. Sever- 
al smaller streams flow into this 
river from the S. side of the town 
Linkfield pond is in Chichester, 
from which flows a small stream S 
W. into the Soucook. The turn 
pike from Concord jto Portsmouth 
passes through this town. In 1791 
a congregational church was organ^ 
ized and Rev. Josiah Carpenter or 
dained. There is also a religious 
society formed of members of dif- 
ferent religious sentiments, but 
agreeing in worship. In various 
parts of the town are still to be seen 
traces of Indian settlements ; and 
implements of stone, chisels, axes, 
&;c. have frequently been found 
^he vicinity was once the resi 
dence of a powerful tribe, the Pen 
acooks, and their plantations of 
corn, &c. were made on the banks 
of the Suncook. Pop. 1010. 

Claremont, a post township 
in Cheshire county, situated in lat 
43° 23', on Connecticut river, is 
bounded N. by Cornish, E. by New 
port, S. by Unity and Charlestown, 
W. by Weathersfield, Vt. contain 
ing 25,830 acres. It is 12 miles 
^. of Charlestown, 47 W, of Con- 
cord, 97 from Portsmouth and 100 
from Boston. This town is water 
ed by Connecticut and Sugar rivers 
besides numerous brooks and riv 
ulets. Sugar river originates from 
Sunapee lake ; passes through part 
of Wendell, the whole of New- 



port, and through nearly the centre 
of this town, where it unites with 
the Connecticut. Red-water brook 
waters the N. E. part of the town 
and empties itself into Sugar river. 
Claremont is a fine undulating 
tract of territory, covered with a 
rich gravelly loam, converted into 
the best meadows and pastures. 
The hills are sloping acclivities, 
crowned with elegant summits. 
The intervals on the rivers are rich 
and luxuriant. The agricultural 
products in 1820, were 30,000 lbs. 
of butter, 55,000 lbs, of cheese, 
135,000 lbs. of beef, 170,000 lbs. 
of pork, 7,500 , lbs. of flax, and 
1100 barrels of cider. Three tons 
of pearlashes were made the same 
year. The houses and buildings 
present a very favorable appear- 
ance, and indicate the wealth and 
prosperity of the town. There is 
but one elevation which comes un- 
der the name of mountain. This 
is near Newport and is called Green 
mountain. There is one small 
pond lying in this town and New- 
port. There is, besides the mills, 
&C. in the statistical table, a wool- 
len factory, owned by Dr. Leonard 
Jarvis, which manufactures be- 
tween 4000 and 5000 yards of 
broad cloth annually. There is al- 
so a valuable paper mill establish- 
ment, owned by Col. Stevens. — 
There is a communication with 
Weathersfield by means of Ash- 
ley's and Sumner's ferries. Just 
below Ashley's ferry, is Hubbard's 
island, 240 rods long and 40 wide. 
There are several bridges over Su- 
gar river. The second N. H. turn- 
pike extends from the lottery bridge 
in Claremont to the plain in Am- 
herst, a distance of about 50 miles. 
Claremont was granted Oct. 26, 
1764, to Josiah Willard, Samuel 
I Ashley and 68 others. It received 
I its name from the country seat of 



NE W.HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



103 



Lord Clive, an English general. 
The first settlement was made in 
1762, by Moses SpaflFord and David 
Lynde. In 1763, and 1766, sever- 
al other inhabitants arrived. In 
1767, a considerable number of the 
proprietors, and others from the 
towns of Farmington, Hebron and 
Colchester, in Connecticut, made 
settlements in different parts of 
the town. The fust n-ative of 
Claremont was Elijah, son of Mo- 
ses Spafiford — he was born in 1763. 
Among the early inhabitants, to 
whose enterprise the town was es- 
sentially indebted for its prosperi- 
ty, may be mentioned Samuel Cole, 
Esq. who graduated at Yale Col- 
lege in 1731, and was for many 
years very useful as an instructor 
of youth. He died at an advan- 
ced age. Dr, William Sumner, a 
native of Boston, who came to 
this place in 1768 from Hebron, 
Conn., was a resident several years 
in Claremont, where he died in 
March, 1778. Col. Benjamin Sum- 
ner, who was many years a civD 
magistrate, died in May, 1815, aged 
78. Col. Joseph Waite, who was 
engaged in the French and Indian 
war, was captain of one of Rog- 
ers' companies of rangers, and 
commanded a regiment in the rev- 
olutionary war, died in Oct. 1776. 
Capt. Joseph Taylor, who was en- 
gaged in the Cape Breton, the 
French, and revolutionary wars, 
who was, with one Farwell, taken 
prisoner by the Indians, in the 
summer of 1755, carried to Cana- 
da, and sold to the French, resided 
in Claremont, and died in March, 
1813, at the age of 84. Hon. Sam- 
uel Ashley moved to this town in 
1782. He was in the wars of 1745 
and 1755. He sustained several 
civil offices, and was judge of the 
court of common pleas. He died 
in Feb. 1792. The early inhabi- 



tants were about equally divided 
in their attachment to episcopacy 
and congregational principles. 
The churches of these denomina- 
tions may be considered as coeval. 
The first minister of the congrega- 
tional society was Rev. George 
Wheaton, who was ordained Feb. 
19, 1772 ; died June 24, 1773, aged 
22. Rev. Augustine Hibbard was 
settled in Oct. 1774 ; was dismis- 
sed i-n 1785. Rev. John Tappan, 
ordained March 7, 1796; dismis- 
sed Sept. 1802. Rev. Stephen 
Farley, ordained Dec. 24, 1806 ; 
dismissed April, 1818. Rev. Jon- 
athan J^ye, ordained June 6, 1821. 
The first minister of the episcopal 
society was Rev. Ramia Cossit, 
who sailed for England for holy 
orders in Dec. 1772. He was or- 
dained by tne bishop of London, 
and returned the next year, and 
took charge of the church in this 
town. He was recalled by the 
bishop to the island of Cape Bret- 
on in 1785. Rev. Daniel Barber 
succeeded him in August, 1775, 
and was dismissed in Nov. 1818. 
The charch, which is called Union 
church, one of the largest in the 
state, is in a flourishing condition, 
containing 120 communicants, and 
is under the care of Rev. James 
B. Howe, who was settled in April, 
1819. The»e are two churches, 
one built in 1773; the other in 
1812, in which public worship is 
attended alternately. A baptist 
society was formed in 1785, and 
the next year, Rev. John Peckens 
was ordained. He was dismissed 
in 1788. Rev. John Peake, now 
of Barnstajjle, Ms., succeeded Mr. 
Peckens. There is a method ist 
society, formed in the year 1309. 
Rev. Caleb Dustin, who died in 
1821, was their pastor several 
years, and was highly respected. 
The.re is a number of universai- 



104 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



ists, who have occasional preach- 
ing. A small society of Roman 
catholics, in this and the neighbor- 
ing towns, have lately received 
Rev. Daniel Barber, formerly the 
episcopalian minister here, who 
was ordained at the Roman catho- 
lic church in Boston, as a mission- 
ary for this state, Dec. 3, 1822. 
The late Hon. Caleb Ellis was 
a resident in this town. He was 
a native of Walpole, Ms., gradua- 
ted at Harvard College 1793. He 
read law principally in the office 
of Hon. Joshua Thomas of Plym- 
outh, Ms. ; came to reside in Clare- 
mont about 1800. In 1804, he was 
chosen a member of congress from 
this State; in 1809 and 1810, a 
member of the executive council ; 
in 1812, an elector of president 
and vice-president of the U. S. 
In 1813, he was appointed judge 
of the superior court, in which of- 
jfice he remained till his death. 
May 9, 1816, aged 49. Pop. 2290. 

Clear Stream, river, rising 
in the mountains of Dixville, N. 
of Millsfield ; it passes through 
the centre of Errol, into the Amer- 
iscoggin, about three miles W. of 
Umbagog lake. 

CocHECO, orQuoCHECHO, riv 
«r, has its rise from several small 
streams in New-Durham, which 
unite in Farmington, whence the 
river meanders through Rochester, 
there receiving the Isinglass, a trib- 
utary, and thence passes through 
Dover into the Newichwannock or 
Salmon-Fall river, the principal 
tranch of the Pas,cataqua. The 
Cocheco is a beautiful river, and 
very important to the inhabitants 
of Rochester and Dover. 

CoLEBROok, pogt-town, Coos 
conn'y, lat. 44^^ 51', is bounded N. 
by Stewartstown, E. by Dixville, 
S. by Columbia, W. by the Con- 
necticut river, and contains 25,000 



acres. It is watered by the Mo- 
hawk river and Beaver brook. The 
soil here is rich, and very gen- 
erally capable of culture. In- 
tervals of good quality stretch 
along the Connecticut, and the up- 
lands, gentle of ascent, are also 
fertile. Colebrook was originally 
granted to Sir George Colebrook 
and others, and was incorporated 
Dec. 1, 1790. The people are ea- 
terprizing and happy. Pop. 46^. 

Cold River. See Acworth. 

College Lands, in the coun- 
ty of Coos, consisting of two grants 
by the state to the trustees of Dart- 
mouth College. The first was 
made Feb. 5, 1789, and contains 
40,960 acres, situated on the Con- 
necticut river N. of Stewartstown. 
The second grant was made June 
IB, 1807, consisting of 23,040 acres, 
located N. of the tract granted to 
George Wentworth. The lands 
are of considerable value, but as 
yet have but 33 inhabitants. 

Columbia, post-town, in the 
county of Coos, in lat. 44° 48^ 
lies on the E. bank of Connecti- 
cut river, 30 miles N. of Lancaster. 
It has Colebrook on the N., Dix- 
ville and Ervin's Location on the 
E. and Stratford on the S. The 
surface of the town is quite une- 
ven, the mountains of Stratford ly- 
ing along the S. From these a 
number of streams descend north- 
westerly into the Connecticut, 
yielding an abundance of water 
for the soil, and furnishing many 
fine mill seats. There are also sev- 
eral small ponds in town — on the 
borders of one, called Lime pond, 
vast quantities of shells are found, 
from which a species of lime is 
made that answers for some uses. 
The forest trees in Columbia are 
what may be called hard wood, in 
distinction from evergreens. Some 
spruce, fir and pine, however, are 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



105 



found in Columbia, but in no abun- 
dance. The want of the latter is 
felt by the inhabitants. This place 
was granted Dec. 1, 1770, and na- 
med Cockbume in honor of Sir 
James Cockbume, of London, a 
grantee. It was incorporated Dec. 
16, 1797 ; and its name altered to 
Columbia June 19, 1811. This 
town originally comprised about 
32,000 acres. Wales' Location, 
containing 5822 acres, has since 
been annexed. Pop. 249. 

Concord, post-town, in the 
county of Rockingham, is the seat 
of the state government. It is 
pleasantly situated on both sides 
the river Merrimack, along which 
spread some rich intei"vals. Con- 
cord is in lat. 43° 12', N. and is 
bounded N. W. by Canterbury and 
Boscawen, N. E. by Loudon and 
Chichester, S. E. by Pembroke and 
Bow, and S. W. by Hopkinton. It 
comprises 40,919 acres, of which 
about 1800 are water. There are 5 
ponds in Concord, two on the E. 
of the Merrimack, and three on 
tiie W. The largest is Turkey 
pond in the S. W. part of the towr., 
containi-ng about 700 acres, the 
waters of which form the Turkey 
river, a stream of some importance, 
passing S. into Bow. Long pond, 
in the W. part of the town, con- 
tains about 500 acres, the waters of 
which pass into the Merrimack be- 
iovv Sewall's island. Turtle pond 
ijes E. of Long pond and near the 
line of Loudon ; it contains about 
200 acres, and its waters pass into 
the Merrimack through the valley 
E. of the river. Tiie others are 
Snow pond, N. W. of Turtle pond, 
and Horse-shoe pond near the 
meeting-house. Tlie river Sou- 
cook forms the S. E. boundary of 
Concord, from Chichester to its 
junction with the Merrimack below 
Garven's falls. The Contoooook 
K2 



is a considerable river, entering 
near the W. corner of the town, 
and uniting with the Merrimack 
on the N. W. line, forming at its 
junction the island celebrated as 
the spot where Mrs. Duston made 
a desperate escape from a party of 
Indians in 1698.* But the Merri- 
mack is the principal river in this 
region, and is not only the orna- 
ment and beautifier of the land- 
scape, but the source of health 
and profit to the inhabitants. It 
meanders nearly through the cen- 
tre of the town, enriching the 
tracts of interval on its borders. 
The intervals here are of no great 
width, and the remark is applica- 
ble, we believe, to the whole val- 
ley of the Merrimack, which is far 
inferior in extent and beauty to 
that of the Connecticut. Soon af- 
ter entering the tov/n, the river 
passes over the rapids called Sew- 
all's falls, below which is situated 
Sewall's island, thus called from 
an early proprietor. The current 
of the river from this island is not 
rapid, and has no natural obstruc- 
tions, until it reaches Turkey and 
Garven's falls at the S. E. extremi- 
ty of the town. Locks are here 
constructed, and the navigation of 
the river has been open during the 
boating seasons for several years. 
The river here is about 100 yards 
wide, but occasionally the spriiig 
and autumn freshes have covered 
the interval adjoining the principal 
village, presenting to the eye a 
body of water of a mile in width. 
Tliese freshes, though often des- 
tructive to crops, fences, &;c. are 
of no disadvantage to the soil, on 
which they deposit a rich sediment. 
During tiie greatest freshes, the 
river has risen nearly 20 feel above 
the ordinary level, but tliis is ua- 



•See Bisscasven, 



106 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



eommon. Tliere are two bridges 
thrown across the river in this 
town : the Federal, or Upper bridge, 
and Concord, or Lower bridge. At 
these bridges are situated the store- 
houses of the Boating Company 
on the river. The intercourse with 
Boston, opened by way of the ca- 
nals on the Merrimack, has been of 
considerable advantage to the coun- 
try. The navigation to this town 
was opened in 1815, and the quan- 
tity of goods annually brought up 
has averaged from 1000 to 1500 
tons. The freight downward has 
been more extensive, consisting of 
the produce of the countr-y, lumber, 
and other heavy or bulky articles. 
For the first Vnree years tlie busi- 
ness on the river exceeded that for 
the three last ; but there is a pros- 
pect that it will hereafter be much 
increased. The principal village, 
and the seat of most of the busi- 
ness of the town, extends along the 
western bank of the Merrimack 
nearly two miles from S.E. to N. W. 
It is very pleasantly situated, and 
from Its convenient situation has 
become a place of considerable 
trade. The state-house,* state-pris- 
on, town-house and meeting-house 
are sitaated in this village.— There 
are 170 dwelling-houses, 18 stores,? 
taverns, several machanic shops, 5 
printing-offices, 5 bookstores and 2 
binderies. On the E. of the river 
is another considerable village,very 
pleasantly situated ; and a village 
iS also forming in the W.part of the 
town. The soil of this town pre- 
sents all the varieties common to 
this region, and is in some parts 
fertile. The highlands extending 
back from the river are very pro- 
ductive, and were originally cover- 
ed with oak, chesnut, maple, &c. 
The plains are alluvial and cover- 



•See page 41. 



ed with a growth of pine. Large 
masses of excellent granite are 
found in Concord, and the public 
edifices there are erected of this 
material. Iron ore exists in small 
quantities, and was formerly 
wi-ought by the inhabitants. The 
tract comprising the town of Con- 
cord, (originally called Penacook,) 
was granted by Massachusetts, Jan. 
17, 1725, to Benjamin Stevens, Eb- 
€nezer Eastman and others, and in- 
cluded seven miles square. In the 
following year settlements were 
commenced, and the tract divided 
into lots ; a block house was also 
erected, to serve for a place of wor- 
ship and as a garrison of defence. 
In 1727, Capt." Ebenezer Eastman 
moved his family into this place. 
In 1728, the S. boundaries of the 
town were extended, as an equiva- 
lent for lands within the limits be- 
fore granted to Gov. Endicott, and 
claimed by heirs of Judge Sewall. 
The first child born at Penacook, 
was Dorcas, a daughter of Edward 
Abbot, Feb. 15, 1728. Edward, son 
of the same, and the first male, was 
born Dec. 27, 1730. In 1733, the 
plantation was incorporated by the 
name of Rumford. From about 
this period till 1762, a controversy 
existed between the proprietors 
of Rumford and Bow, the latter 
claiming under a grant from New- 
Hampshire a great portion of the 
town of Rumford. The question 
was decided on appeal to the King 
in Council in 1762 ; and Rumford 
was incorporated by New-Hamp- 
shire, June 7, 1765, by the name 
of Concord. No considerable at- 
tacks were made by the Indians 
wandering in this region, until the 
commencement of the \»ar of 1 744. 
During several years thereafter, 
the inhabitants were in constant 
danger and alarm, and lived in gar- 
risons. On the 7th of Aug. 1746, 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



107 



the Indians killed Jonathan and 
Samuel Bradley, Obadiah Peters, 
John Bean and John Lufkin ; and 
took several others into captiv- 
ity. The party were travelling 
toward Hopkinton. The conflict v.as 
obstinate, and a greater number of 
Indians were killed.* The enemy i 
hovered in the neighborhood du- 
ring the war ■, killed a Mr. Ester- 
brooks Nov. 10, 1746, and commit- 
ted various depredations upon the 
cattle and other property of the in- 
habitants. R.ev. Timothy Walker, 
the first minister, was settled Nov. 
18,1730; and died Sept. 2, 1782, 
aged 77. P^ev. Israel Evans was 
ordained July 1, 1789 ; dismissed 
in 1797. Rev. Asa MTarland, 
D. D. was ordained March 7, 1798 ; 
and his church consists ef nearly 
400 members. An episcopal soci- 
ty was formed here in 1818 ; and 
in the same year a baptist church, 
over w^hich Rev. William Taylor 
was settled in 1819. There is also 
a society of friends. The first pa- 
per established in this town was 
the " Courier of Nei\'-Hampshire," 
commenced by George Hough Jan. 
6, 1790 ; discontinued Oct. 30.1805. 
•♦ The Mirror," by Moses Davis, 
was commenced in 1792 ; discon 
tinned in 1799. Elijah Russell es. 
tabiished the " Republican Ga 
zette,"Feb. 5, 1801, and discontin- 
ued it in 1802. The "Concord Ga 
zette," by Hoit & Tattle, commen 
ced July 6, 1806, and discontinued 
in 1819. Tlie "JVew-Hampshire Pat 
riot" by Isaac Hill, commenced 
Oct. 18, 1808. The " Concord Ob- 
server," since altered to " JWw; 
Hampshire Repository," was estab- 
lished by George Hough, Jan. 1 
1819 ; and transferred to John W. 
Shepard, the present publisher, 
April 1, 1822. The " J^ew-Hamp 



•See History of Concord, published by 
Jacob B. Moore. 



shire Statesman" by Luther Roby, 
commenced Jan. 6, 1 823. A Liter- 
ary Journal, conducted by the au- 
thors of this Gazetteer, was com- 
menced in 1822, and is still publish- 
ed by J. B. Moore. This town has 
generally enjoyed an unusual ex- 
emption from disease. For the last 
31 years, the deaths have been 845, 
averaging about 27 per annum. Of 
these about one 12th part have liv- 
ed to the age of 80 years and up- 
wards — several to nearly 100. Ep- 
idemics have scarcely ever pre- 
vailed here. The small pox ap- 
peared in 1775, but was checked by 
timely precaution. In 1812, 13, 16 
and 17, the spotted fever made its 
appearance, and a number fell its 
victims. Among the early inhab- 
itants and distinguished citizens of 
this town, we may mention the 
Rev. Timothy Walker, the 
first minister. He was a native of 
Woburn, Ms., graduated at Har- 
vard Collc^«3 in 1725. During S2 
years, which he spent in the minis- 
try here, his labors were abundant- 
ly successful. Hon. Timothy 
Walker, son of the preceding, 
was born in 1737; graduated at 
Harvard in 1756 ; was entrusted 
with various civil offices by his 
townsmen, and in 1776 was one of 
the committee of safety for the 
state. He commanded a regiment 
of minute men in New-Hampshire 
—was afterwards paymaster of the 
state forces, and served a cam- 
paign under Gen. Sullivan. He 
was a member of the convention 
which formed our constitution in 
1784 — was afterwards several years 
a legislator ; and for some time 
sustained the office of chief-justice 
of the common pleas. He died 
May 5, 1822, aged 85. Benja- 
min ROLFE, Esq. an early and 
distinguished settler, died March 
20, 1772. Dr. EzRA CARTER, the 



108 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



first physician, and a person uni- 
versally esteemed, died Sept. 17, 
1767, aged 48. Dr. Philip Car- 
RIGAIJV, an eminent physician and 
valuable citizen, died in 1806. 
Deacon John Kimball, esteem- 
ed for a life of unobtrusive useful- 
ness and piety, died Dec. 31, 1817, 
aged 78. Hon. Thomas W. 
Thompson, a distinguished inhab- 
itant, died Oct. 1, 1821, aged 67. 
Numerous other individuals, belov- 
ed for services to the community, 
might be mentioned, had we room 
in this brief sketch. The celebrated 
Benjamin Thompson, (known 
to the world as Count Rumford,) 
was a native of Woburn, Ms. and 
settled here in early life. In 1775, 
he went to England, was employ- 
ed as clerk in the office of an Eng- 
lish nobleman, who eventually pro- 
cured for him a colonel's commis- 
sion. He served in the British ar- 
mies until 1784, when his philo- 
sophical inquiries having attracted 
attention in foreign countries, he 
was promoted to the rank of lieu- 
tenant-general of horse, in the ser- 
vice of the Duke of Bavaria. Here 
he distinguished himself in intro- 
ducing discipline and economy 
among the troops ; and during his 
residence in Bavaria made success- 
ful efforts in the public service, and 
particularly in ameliorating the 
condition of the poor. On leaving 
the German service, the Duke ere 
ated him a count, taking his title 
from the name of the town where 
he had spent most of his youth. 
Count Rumford afterwards visited 
England, where he received the 
honors of knighthood, and enjoyed 
the favor of the public. He died 
in France in 1814, at the age of 60 
years. More particular notices of 
Count Rumford and others may be 
found in tVie History of Concord 
before referred to. This tovi^n has 



for many years been the seat of the 
state government. Terms of the 
superior court, courts of sessions 
and probate courts are now to be 
holden at this place. Concord is 62 
miles from Boston, 45 ffom Ports- 
mouth, 40 from Dover, 70 from Ha- 
verhill,55 from Keene, and 505 from 
Washington City. Pop. 2838. 

Concord, a post town in Graf- 
ton county, in lat. 44° 12', is boun- 
ded N. by Littleton and Bethlehem, 
E. by Franconia, S. by Landaff, and 
W. by Lym^, containing 29,130 
acres. Its S. W. angle terminates 
at Bath. It is 20 miles from Ha- 
verhill, 28 from Lancaster, and 90 
from Concord, the seat of govern- 
ment. It is watered by Amonoo- 
suck river, running through the 
whole extent of the town, and by 
several smaller streams. Across 
the Amonoosuck, the town sup- 
ports three bridges. There are 
several ponds, the most noted of 
which is called Mink pond, lying 
in the S. part of the town, afiording 
mill seats at its outlet. The soil 
admits of three divisions, the mead- 
ows or intervals on Amonoosuck 
river, which are generally very 
productive ; tlie plain land of a 
light, thin soil, requiring consider- 
able manure er plaister to make it 
productive 5 and the uplands of a 
strong deep soil, which afford many 
good farms. Blueberry mountain 
is the principal elevation. This 
town for several years increased 
greatly in population, hhving from 
1800 to 1810, nearly doubled its 
numbers. The Franconia iron fac- 
tory lies near the eastern border of 
this town. All the ore which sup- 
plies the furnace is dug from a 
quarry in the S.E. part of the town, 
about 4 miles from the furnace. 
Two veins of ore have been open- 
ed, one of which is 300 feet in 
length and 120 in depth. The oth- 



i 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



109 



er lies in horizontal strata, 50 feet 
of wliich are under an arched roof 
of stone, affording a convenient 
shelter for the miners against the 
inclemency of the weather. Large 
quantities of limestone are found 
here — lime-kilns have been erected, 
in which are burnt 500 hogsheads 
of lime annually. Maple sugar is 
manufactured and clover seed is 
raised in considerable quantities. 
This town was first granted Aug. 6, 
1763, to Joseph Burt and others by 
the name of Concord. Afterwards 
it was granted to Leonard Whiting 
rwd others, Nov. 20, 1768, by the 
name of Gunthwaite, which name 
it retained several years. It after- 
wards assumed the name of Con- 
cord. There is a freewill baptist 
society, over which Elder Joshua 
Quimby was ordained in Sept.1800, 
and a methodist society under the 
pastoral cave of Ozias Savage. 

Connecticut, lake, the source 
of one of the principal branches 
of Connecti(;ut river, is situated N. 
of the 1st grant to Dartmouth Col- 
lege, in lat. 45° 2' ; and is 5 1-2 
miles in length, and 2 1-2 in widtli. 
It is supplied by several small 
streams, rising in the highlands 
north of the lake. 

CoNNECTiCTTT, river, one of the 
finest streams in New-England, has 
two principal branches, both hav- 
ing their origin in New-Hampshire 
and the mountainous tracts on the 
north. The head of the N. W. 
branch is near the extreme north- 
ern limit of this state. This branch 
originates from a chain of moun- 
tains which proceeds northeaster- 
ly to the gulf of St. Lawrence. 
Between its source and 45° of N. 
lat., it is the boundary between 
New-Hampshire and Lower Cana- 
da, and in that distance is joined 
by the N. E. branch. The Con- 
necticut extends about 170 miles 



on the western border of N. H., 
and its western shore forms th« 
boundary between this state and 
Vermont. The different directions 
of this river and the towns which 
border it in these states, may be 
seen by referring to the map. The 
breadth of the Connecticut, when 
it first washes Vermont is about 
150 feet ; and in the course of six- 
ty miles, it increases to about 390 
fieet. In Massachusetts and Con- 
necticut, the breadth may be esti- 
mated from 450 to 1050 feet. The 
depth of the channel of the river 
below the head of boat navigation, 
may be generally stated to varj 
from 5 to 12 feet. This river is 
navigable for vessels drawing ten 
feet water, 36 miles to Middle- 
town ; for small sloops 50 miles to 
Hartford ; and by means of canals 
and other improvements, it has 
been rendered passable for boats 
to the Fifteen Mile falls, 250 miles 
further. There are many rapids 
in the Connecticut. Those of 
Bellows Falls in Walpole are the 
most distinguished, for a descrip- 
tion of which see Bellows Falls. 
The falls of Queechy just below 
the mouth of the river Waterquee- 
chy from the west ; the White 
River falls, a little below the vil- 
lage of Hanover ; and the Fifteen 
Mile Falls, the foot of which is near 
the head of boat navigation, are the 
other most considerable rapids in 
this state. In its course through 
Massachusetts, are falls at Mon- 
tague and at South Hadley, and in 
the state of Connecticut, are En- 
field falls. The perpendicular 
height of the falls which have been 
overcome by dams and locks be- 
tween Springfield in Mass., and 
Hanover in N. H., a distance of 
130 miles, is about 200 feet. Bars 
of gravel and sand extend across 
this river in various places, over 



10 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEEll. 



which, boats with difficulty pass in 
low water. Upon one of those 
gravel bars between the towns of 
Deeriield and Montague, it is even 
fordable during that period. In 
this state, Connecticut river re- 
o«ives as tributary streams, Upper 
Amonoosuck, Lower Amonoosuck, 
Israel's, John's, Mascomy, Sugar, 
Cold, and Ashuelot rivers. From 
Vermont, beginning at the north 
boundary, it receives Nulhegan, 
Pasumpsick, Welis, Wait's, Om- 
pomponoosuck. White, Waterquee- 
chy, Black, William's, Sexton's, 
and West rivers. There are from 
20 to 30 bridges over the Connec- 
ticut between its source and its 
mouth, of which there are 16 in 
this state. The intervals are gen- 
erally spread upon one or both 
sides of this river, nearly on a lev- 
el with its banks, and extending 
from half a mile to five miles in 
breadth ; but its borders are in 
seme places high, rocky, and pre- 
cipitous. With respect to its 
length, utility, and beauty, this is 
beyond ail comparison, the finest 
river in the eastern states, and 
forms, indeed, a distinguished fea- 
ture of the country. In the spring, 
it overflows its banks, and through 
an extent of 300 miles, forms and 
fertilizes a vast tract of rich mead- 
ow. While it advances the fertil- 
ity, and serves to transport the 
produce, it is always adding beauty 
and grandeur to the prospect, by 
fis majestic movement through an 
extensive country, variegated with 
pleasant and happy villages. 

CoNTOOCOOK river, a stream of 
considerable length and impor- 
tance, waters most of the towns in 
the W. part of the county of Hills- 
borough. It has its origin from 
several ponds in Jaffrey and 
Rindge, and in its course north, re- 
ceives numerous streams fromDub- 



jlin, Peterborough, Sharon, Nelson, 
Stoddard, Washington, Antrim, 
JDeering and Hillsborough. In 
Hillsborough it takes a N. E. and 
easterly direction, and proceeds 
through Henniker to Hopkinton, 
where it receives Warner and 
Blac'nwater rivers. From Hopkin- 
ton, it pursues a meandering course 
through Concord, and discharges 
itself into the Merrimack between 
Concord and Boscawen. Near the 
mouth of this river is Duston's isl- 
and, celebrated as the spot where 
Mrs. Duston destroyed several In- 
dians in 1698. 

CowwAT, post-town, Strafford 
county, situated on Saco river, in 
lat. 43° 57', bounded N. by Chat- 
ham and Bartlett, W. by"^ Hale's 
location and Burton, S. by Eaton 
and E. by the State line, which 
separates it from Brownfield and 
Fryeburgh, Me. — is six miles 
square, — contains 23,040 acres, and 
is 72 miles from Concord, 75 from 
Portsmouth, 118 from Boston and 
52 from Portland. Swift river, a 
considerable and very rapid stream, 
Pequawkett river, and a stream ta- 
king its rise in Walker's pond, the 
two last affording mill privileges, 
discharge themselves into Saco riv- 
er in this town. Saco river here is 
from 10 to 12 rods wide and about 
2 feet deep ; its current rapid and 
broken by falls. This river has 
been known to rise 27 and even 
30 feet in tlie course of 24 hours. 
At such times, it does great injury 
by destroying fences and cattle, 
which happen to be exposed to its 
fury. The largest collections of wa- 
ter in Conway are a part of Walker's 
pond, and Little Pequawkett pond, 
which lie in the south part of the 
town. The latter is about 360 rods 
in circumference. Pine, Rattle- 
! snake, and Green hills, are consid- 
' erable elevations on the north-east- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Ill 



etn side of the river. There is a 
detached block of granite on the 
southern side of Pine hill — the 
largest perhaps in the state. A 
spring near tlie centre of the town 
on the bank of Cold brook, strong- 
ly impregnated with sulphur, has 
been visited frequently by the in- 
firm, and in many instances found 
beneficial. There are also in this 
town large quantities of magnesia 
and fuller's earth. The soil may 
be divided into interval, plain, and 
upland. The interval along the 
river is from 50 to 220 rods wide, 
and was originally covered with 
white pine and sugar maple. The 
plain, when properly cultivated, 
produces large crops of corn and 
rye. The upland is rocky and re- 
quires much labor to subdue it 
properly. The natural growth 
was oak, beech, and maple. The 
"Conway and Bartlett library" 
was incorporated in 1802, and con- 
tains 175 volumes. The congre- 
gational church was formed Oct, 
28, 1778, by Timothy Walker, Abi- 
el Lovejoy, Thomas Russell and 
Richard Eastman. Rev. Nathan- 
iel Poi'ter, D. D. was settled Oct. 
28, 1778, and dismissed by the 
church in 1815. The baptist 
church was formed Aug. 26, 1796 
Richard R. Smith was ordained 
Oct. 20, 1796 ; dismissed Sept. 5 
1799. Roswell Means settled Sept. 
1799; dismissed June 6, 1807, 
Samuel Simmons hired Dec. 7 
1807; continued till Jan. 28, 1811 
Elder Ebenezer Bray moved to 
Conway and took the pastoral care 
of this church in April 1813. The 
present number of members is 55. 
There is also a society of mctho- 
dists. James and Benjamin Os- 
good, John DoUoff, Ebenezer Bur- 
bank, and some others, formed set- 
tlements in Conway during the 
years 1764, 5 and 6. Oct. 1, 1765, 



Daniel Foster obtained a grant of 
this tov/nship on condition that 
each grantee should pay a rent of 
one ear of Indian corn annually 
for the space of ten years if de- 
manded. The first proprietors* 
meeting was holden in Chester, 
Dec. 10, 1765. Thomas Meriill, 
who was a,lso the first justice of 
the peace, was chosen town and 
proprietors' clerk, which office he 
held 20 years. Ten of the origin- 
al shares were re-granted in 1772. 
Three locations on the southern ex- 
tremity of the town containing 
2000 acres each were annexed in 
ISOO. Pop. 1365. 

Cornish, a post-township in 
the N. part of Cheshire county,lat. 
43° 28', is bounde* N. by Plain- 
field, E. by Croydon, S. by Clare- 
mont, and W. by Windsor, Vt. 
containing 23,160 acres. It is 17 
miles from Charlestown, 50 from 
Concord and 108 from Boston. 
Connecticut river waters the W. 
part of this town, and by means of 
a bridge, connects Cornish with. 
Windsor. The soil is generally 
fertile. The town is hilly with fae 
exception of that part which lies 
on the river. Blow-me-down and 
Briant's brooks are the only streams 
of any magnitude — these afford a 
few good mill privileges. The ag- 
ricultural products in 1820, were 
28,000 lbs. of butter, 65,000 lbs. of 
cheese, 122,000 lbs. of beef, 155,- 
000 lbs. of pork, 8,300 lbs. of flax 
and 1056 barrels of cider. Cor- 
nish was granted June 21, 1763, to 
Rev. Samuel McClrntock, of Green- 
land, and 69 others. The first 
meeting of the proprietors was 
holden at Greenland August 15, 
of the same year. The first meet- 
ing of the freeholders and other in- 
liabitants was holden at Cornish, 
March 10, 1767. The town was 
settled in 1765, by emigrants chief- 



112 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



ly from Sutton, Massachusetts. 
When they arrived, they found a 
camp, for many years known by 
the name of " Mast Camp." It 
was erected for the accommoda- 
tion of a company employed in 
procuring masts for the royal na- 
vy. The first settlers found a Mr. 
Dyke and his family in this camp. 
Capt. Daniel Putnam, afterwards 
a respectable inhabitant and many 
years clerk of the town, had resi- 
ded here the year previous. Cor- 
nish was one of the sixteen towns 
which seceded from New-Hamp- 
shire, and joined Vermont in 1778. 
It was in this town, that a conven- 
tion of delegates from several 
towns on both sides the river, as- 
•sembled Dec. 9, 1778, and agreed 
to make the following proposals to 
N. H., viz. either to agree with 
them on a dividing line, or to sub- 
mit the dispute to Congress, or to 
arbitrators mutually chosen. The 
proceedings of this town in rela- 
tion to the controversy with Ver- 
mont may be seen by referring to 
Collections Historical and Miscel- 
laneous, No. 5, for May, 1823, A 
congregational church was formed, 
and Rev. James Welman was set- 
tled over it in 1763. He was dis- 
, missed in 1785. Rev. Joseph Row- 
ell was ordained in Sept. 1800. A 
baptist church was formed June 24, 
1791, and Rev. Ariel Kendrick 
commenced preaching here in 
1801. An episcopalian society 
was formed in Dec. 1793, by Rev. 
John C. Ogden. It was incorpo- 
rated Dec. 24, 1795, by the name 
of " Trinity Church." Rev. George 
Leonard has been the rector sever- 
al years. Pop. 1701. 

CoRwAY Peak, or Chocorua, 
a mountain. See Burton. 

Coventry, a township in Graf- 
ton county, in lat. 44^ 2', is bound- 
ed N. by Landaff, E. by Peeling, 



S. by Warren, W. by Haverhill, 
containing 33,290 acres. It is 70 
miles from Concord and 100 miles 
from Portsmouth. This town is 
watered by branches of Oliverian 
brook and Wild Amonoosuck riv- 
ers. In the S. E. part of Coven- 
try is one of the most considera- 
ble elevations in Grafton county. 
Moose hillock mountain ranks 
among the highest mountains in 
N. H. Owl-head mountain lies in 
the W. part of this town an- on 
the E. boundary of Haverhill. 
Coventry presents a rough and 
mountainous aspect, and the soil 
in several parts is not capable of 
cultivation. There are however 
some very productive/arms. This 
town was granted Jan. 31, 1764, to 
Theophilus Fitch and others, and 
was settled after the commence- 
ment of the revolutionary war. In 
1790, it contained but 80 souls, 
and from that time to the present, 
the increase of population has 
been very slow. Pop. 315. 

Croydon, a township in Chesh- 
ire county, situated in lat. 43° 27', 
is bounded N. by Grantham and 
Springfield, E. by Springfield and 
Wendell, S. by Newport, and W. 
by Cornish. It contains 26,000 ac. ; 
and is 100 miles from Boston, 44 
from Concord. The N. brauch of 
Sugar rtver waters this town, and 
there are several streams which is- 
sue from small ponds and assist in 
forming this branch of Sugar river. 
Croydon mountain is of considera- 
ble elevation, and extends in a N. 
E. direction through the town frona 
its S. W. extremity. There are 2 
.small ponds on this mountain. The 
soil of Croydon is moist and rocky, 
but it produces excellent grass, be- 
sides wheat, rye, corn, &c. The 
agricultural products in 1820, were 
22,000 lbs. of butter, 30,000 lbs. of 
cheese, 51,000 lbs. of beef, 75,000 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



113 



lbs. of pork, 4,400 lbs. of flax, and 
400 barrels of cider. The Croydon 
turnpike passes through nearly the 
centre of this town. There is a 
social library, which contains 170 
vols. There has as yet been but 
one native of the town educated at 
college. Croydon vas granted by 
charter to Samuel Chase and others 
May 31, 1763. It was settled in 
1766 by inhabitants from Grafton 
and Sutton, Ms. A congregational 
church was formed Sept. 9, 1778. 
Rev. Jacob Haven was ordained 
June 18,1788. Pop. 1060. 

D. 

Dalton, post-township, in Coos 
county, lat. 44° 22', is situated on 
the banks of the Connecticut river, 
directly below Lancaster, by which 
and Whitefield it is bounded N. 
E. ; S. by Bethlehem, S. W. by 
Littleton, N.JW. by Lunenburgh, 
Vt. The great, or Fifteen-Mile 
Falls, in this river commence in 
Dalton, and rush tumultuously 
along the north-west boundary of 
this town, and of Littleton and 
Lyman. The town is also watered 
by John's river and several large 
brooks. The western and southern 
parts of this town are hilly. The 
land in its natural state was cover- 
ed with a thick growth of maple, 
beech, birch, ash, some hemlock 
and spruce ; and along the borders 
of John's river the majestic wiiite 
pine abounds. The soil on the 
highlands is deep and well adapted 
to grazing — is generally good and 
in some parts easy of cultivation. 
Blake's pond, the only one in town, 
lies at the S. E. corner. Moses 
Blake and Walter Bloss were the 
first settlers of Dalton, and with 
their families, for a long time the 
only inhabitants. Coffin Moore 
was the third settler. Dalton was 
incorporated Nov. 4, 1784, and re- 



ceived its name from Hon. Tris- 
tram Dalton, a grantee. It com- 
prises an area of 16,455 acres, and 
has 347 inhabitants. 

Danbury, a township in the S. 
part of Grafton county, in lat. 43° 
33', is bounded N. by Orange, N. E. 
by Alexandria, S. E. by New-Ches- 
ter, S. W. by Wilmot, and N. W. 
by Cushing's Gore and contains 
about 19,000 acres. It lies in the 
form of a diamond. It is 93 miles 
from Boston and 30 from Concord. 
This town is generally hilly, al- 
though there are some intervals. 
In the N. E. part is a large hill. 
The eastern section is watered by 
Smith's river. The Grafton turn- 
pike passes through the W. ex 
tremity. The first settlement was 
made in Nov. 1771, and the first 
settler is still living. The settle- 
ments were first made in the E. part 
of the town and have extended 
over the whole tract of territory 
excepting the N. E. Danbury was 
incorporated June 18, 1795, Pop, 
467. 

Dartmouth College. S«e 
Gen. View, p. 21, and Hanover. 

Dead river, in Coos county, ri- 
ses in the lands N. of the traot 
granted to Gilmanton and Atkin- 
son academies, and after receiving 
several branches, it falls into the 
Margallaway river near the S. E. 
comer of 2d grant to Dart. College. 

Deerfield, post town, Rock- 
ingham county, lat. 43° 8', was ori-*' 
ginally a part of the township of 
Nottingham, from which it was dis- 
annexed and incorporated Jan. 8, 
1766. It is bounded N.W.by Epsom 
N.by Northwood, E.by Nottingham, 
S. by Raymond and Candia, W. 
by AUenstown — and contains 28,- 
254 acres. Pleasant pond, a beau- 
tiful body of water, lies partly in 
this town and partly in Northwood ; 
its waters are very clear, and on 



114 



NEW -HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



the margin, especially at the west- 
erly end, are large quantities of 
fine white floor sand. Shingle pond 
lies at the S. W. part of this town, 
and affords fish of various kinds. 
Moulton's pond is situated at the 
W. part of the town : this pond, 
although small, is noted on account 
of its having no visible inlet, and 
therefore is supposed to be suppli- 
ed by a subterraneous passage, as 
the water is always of nearly an 
equal depth ; the outlets of this 
pond run in opposite directions, 
006 N. into Suncook river in Ep- 
som, and the other into Lamprey 
river near the centre of the town. 
This pond is also remarkable on 
account of its having been often 
sounded without discovering any 
bottom. A branch of Lamprey 
river passes S. and S. E. through 
Deerfield. The surface of this 
town is uneven, the soil durable, 
and fertile, although hard to culti- 
vate. The growth of wood is rock- 
maple, white maple, beech, birch, 
red oak, pine, hemlock,^ elm, and 
various other kinds. The Tucka- 
way, between Deerfield and Not- 
tingham, the Saddleback between 
Deerfield and Northwood, and Fort 
mountain on the W., are the prin- 
cipal elevations. In the W. part 
of this town, on the southerly side 
of a ridge of rocks which extend 
3-4 of a mile, is a natural forma- 
tion in the rock, for sixty years 
designated as the " Indian Camp." 
Its sides are irregular, and the top 
is covered by a canopy of granite 
projecting about 14 feet, aftbrding 
a shelter from the sun and rain. 
On the E. side of this camp is a 
natural flight of steps> or stones re- 
sembling steps, by which persons 
may easily ascend to the top of the 
rock. This town was once a place 
of favorite resort for deer and otlier 
animals — great numbers of which 



were taken. While the petition 
for the town was pending, a Mr. 
Batchelder killed a deer, and pre- 
senting it to Gov. Wentworth, ob- 
tained the act under the name of 
Deer-Jield. The town was settled 
in 1756 and 1758, by John Robert- 
son, Jacob Smith, Isaac Shepard, 
Benjamin Batchelder and others. 
During the Indian wars, the inhabi- 
tants lived in garrison, but no se- 
rious mischiefs were experienced. 
The names of 18 persons from this 
town who died in the revolution, 
are preserved. The congregation- 
al society was formed in Dec. 1772, 
and Rev. Timothy Upham ordain- 
ed ; he died Feb. 21, 1811, aged 
64. Rev. JVathaniel Wells was 
ordained July 1, 1812; and his 
church consists of 82 persons. Rev. 
Eliphalet Smith, a follower of 
Whitefield, preached here before 
the settlement of Mr. Upham, but 
afterwards removed. The baptists 
here have a convenient meeting- 
house, but no stated preacher. A 
freewill baptist church was form- 
ed May 5, 1799, and consists of 
about 60 members, but they have 
no regular preaching, Tiie num- 
ber of deaths in this town for the 
last 21 years has been 456, aver- 
age 22 annually. The greatest 
mortality was in 1815, when the 
spotted fever prevailed, and 55 per- 
sons died ; the least, in 1806, '17 
and '22 — 13 only occurring in each 
of these years. Wid. Sarah God- 
frey died here Feb. 7, 1821, at the 
age of 100 years 5 months. Hon. 
Richard Jejvness, respected as 
a magistrate, representative, sena- 
tor and judge of the common pleas, 
died July 4, 1819, aged 73. Jo- 
seph Mills, an officer in Col. 
Cilley's regiment during the revo- 
lution, afterwards a magistrate and 
representative, died in June, 1809, 
aged 60. Pop. 2133. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



115 



Deering, a post-township in 
Hillsborougli county, in lat. 43° 4', 
is bounded N. by Hillsborough and 
Henniker,E. by Weaie, S. by Fran- 
cestown and Society Land, and W. 
by Antrim, containing 20,057 acres. 
It is 23 miles S. 67° W. from Con- 
cord, 23 from Hopkinton, and 66 
from Boston. It is diversified with 
hills and valleys ; is well watered, 
and its soil is favorable for the sev- 
eral purposes of agriculture. There 
are three ponds, Dudley, Pecker's, 
and Fulton's. Dudley pond near 
the N. line, is 140 rods long, and 50 
wide, and receives part of its wa 
ters from a pond in the south part 
of Henniker. Pecker's, near the 
centre, is 180 rods long and 65 
wide. These ponds are sources of 
the N. branch of Piscataquog river 
Fulton's pond, about half a mile 
S. S. W. of the outlet of Pecker's 
pond, is 50 rods long and 20 wide. 
Tlie 2d N. H. turnpike, and the 
road from Boston to Amherst,Mont 
pelier and Montreal, pass through 
the S. W. part of this town. Be 
sides the enumeration in the coun 
ty statistical table, there is an iron 
factory with a trip-hammer, in 
which hoes are manufactured. — 
Pot-ashes and bricks are made in a 
considerable quantity. The agri 
cultural products for the market 
are principally carried to Boston 
and Salem. There is a social libra- 
ry containing 140 volumes. There 
is a cent society, and a number of 
members belonging to the N. H bi 
ble and missionary societies. Deer- 
ing was incorporated Jan. 17, 1774. 
The name was given by Gov. John 
Wentvvorth, in honor of his wife, 
whose name before marriage was 
Frances Dering or Deering. The 
first permanent settlement was 
made in 1765, by Alexander Ptobin- 
son. Soon after, he was followed 
by William Mc'Kean, William 



Forsaith, Thomas Aiken, William 
Aiken, Francis Grimes and others. 
The first settleis were from Am- 
herst, Chester, Londonderry and 
Newbury. Some of them are still 
living. A congregational church 
was formed by Rev.Solomon Moore 
and Rev.Jona. Barns,in Dec. 1789. 
Rev. Messrs. Gillet, C. Page, and 
D. Long, preached here, but neith- 
er were settled. A second congre- 
gational church was formed in 1801, 
over which Rev. William Sleigh 
was ordained Oct. 22, the same 
year. He was dismissed in 1807. 
Rev. Jabez P. Fisher, though not 
settled, preaches in this place. — 
Pop. 1415. 

Deer Islands, in Connecti- 
cut river, between Lyman and 
Barnet, are five in number, and 
were granted Jan. 16, 1769, to John 
Hurd of Portsmouth. The largest 
contains 38 acres. 

DiAMOivD river,>as its principal 
source in Diamond pond in Stew- 
artstown. From thence it passes 
through Dixville, and after receiv- 
ing several tributaries, falls into the 
Dead river near its junction with 
the Margallaway. 

Dixville, a township, in Coos 
county, wasgrantedin 1805and '10 
to the late Col. Timothy Dix, jr. of 
Boscawen ; and had in the latter , 
year 12 inhabitants. It comprises 
31,023 acres, is an uneven to«Ti- 
ship, and bounded N. by the grants 
to Dartmouth College and Atkinson 
and Gilmanton Academies, E. by 
College lands and Wcnlworth's lo- 
cation, S. by Millsfield and Ervin's 
location, W. by Columbia, Cole- 
brook and Stewartstown. Numer- 
ous streams meander through this 
town from the surrounding heights. 
There were in 1820 but hvo inhab- 
itants. 

Dorchester, a township in 
Grafton county, in lat. 43° 46', is 



116 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



situated on the highlands between 
Connecticut and Merrimack rivers, 
12 miles from the former, and 8 
from the latter. It is bounded N. 
by Wentworth, E. by Groton, S. by 
Dame's Gore, separating it from 
Canaan, W. by Lime, containing 
23,040 acres. It is 23 miles from 
Haverhill, 50 from Concord, and 
90 from Portsmouth. The princi- 
pal streams are the S. branch of 
Baker's river, a branch of Masco- 
my, and Rocky branch. The first 
rises in Groton, and has aN. course 
through this town. On the borders 
of this stream are some narrow 
tracts of interval. The branch of 
Mascomy flows from Smart's pond 
in a S. direction to Canaan, there 
uniting with the principal sU'eam. 
There are two considerable ponds, 
both in the W. part, the largest of 
which is about 1 mile long, and one 
fifth of a mile wide. There are 
two elevations called mountains, 
one at the N. W. corner ; the oth- 
er at the S. E. extremity. The 
soil in some parts is very fertile ; 
particularly the intervals on the 
branch of Baker's? river. The high- 
lands are very uneven, and the 
greater part rocky. The school 
districts, of which there are eight, 
average 25 scholars to each. There 
are three religious societies, meth- 
odist, baptist, and congregational- 
ist. The former has a meeting- 
house erected in 1800. The bap- 
tist church and society was formed 
in 1819. The two first charters of 
^l^s town were forfeited by the non- 
fulfilment of the conditions they 
required. The third was granted 
May 1, 1772, to 72 persons, and the 
settlement began about the same 
time. The first settlers were Ben- 
jamin Rice and Stephen Murch 
from Hanover, originally from Con- 
necticut. The settlement advan- 
ced slowly, and there are now 



large tracts of vacant land in town. 
Pop. 584> 

Dover, is one of the principal 
towns and shire of the county of 
Strafiford, in lat. 43° 12', situated 
about 10 miles N. W. from Ports- 
mouth, and lies upon the great 
road leading through the eastern 
part of the state of New-Hamp- 
shire from Boston to Portland. On 
the E., it is separated from Elliot 
in Maine by the Pascataqua ; has 
the town of Somersworth on the 
N. E. and N., Rochester on the N. 
W., Barrington on the W. and 
Madbury on the S. W., running to 
a point in the S. Its two principal 
streams are the Cocheco, and Bel- 
lamy Bank river, more commonly- 
called by the inhabitants Back riv- 
er. They take a S. E. course 
through the town, and unite with 
other waters to form the Pascata- 
qua. Passing over this town in 
any direction, the traveller finds no 
rugged mountains, nor extensive 
barren plains, but occasionally as- 
cends gentle swells of land, from 
the height of which, the eye meets 
some delightful object ; a winding 
stream, a well cultivated farm, or 
a distant village. In the S. part of 
the town is a neck of land about 
2 miles long and half a mile broad, 
having Pascataqua on one side, 
and Back river on the other. Along 
this neck, till of late, lay the prin- 
cipal road leading from this town 
to Portsmouth. From the road on 
either hand, the land gradually de- 
scends to the rivers. It commands 
a very delightful, variegated, and 
extensive prospect of bays, adja- 
cent shores, and distant mountains. 
On this neck, the first settlement 
of the town was made in 1623, by 
a compaay in England, who styled 
themselves the " company of La- 
conia." It was their design to 
plant a colony, and establish a fislv 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



117 



ery around the Pascataqua ; for 
v/liich purpose they sent over witli 
several others Edward and William 
Hilton, fishmongers, of London. 
These men commenced their oper- 
ations on the neck at a place by 
the Indians called JVinicliahanai, 
which they called J^oriham, and 
afterwards Dover. For several 
years, this spot embraced the prin- 
cipal part of the population of the 
town ; here was erected the first 
meeting-house, afterwards surroun- 
ded with an entrenchment, and 
flankatts, the remains of which are 
still visible ; here the people of 
what is now7 called Somersvvorth, 
Durham, Lee, and Madbur}^ then 
Dover, assembled to worship, and 
to transact their public business. In 
process of time, the business and 
population of tht town began to 
centre around Cocheco fails, about 
4 miles N. W. from the neck. 
These falls are in the river whose 
name they bear, and give to the 
water that passes over them a 
sudden descent of 32 1-2 feet. — 
Situate at the head of navigation, 
about 12 miles from the ocean, hav- 
ing a fertile country on the north, 
west, and south, they are consi'ier- 
ed among the most valuable in 
New-England. Around these falls 
the present village of Dover is sit- 
uated. It contains about 100 dwel- 
ling-houses, 2 meeting-houses, a 
court-house, jail, academy, 1 print- 
ing office, a library, bank, and man- 
ufactories of various kind?. The 
academy is pleasan^^ly situated on 
the S. bank of th.e Cocheco, bulk 
of brick, and well adapted for the 
accommodation of two schools. At 
present it is struggling with the dif- 
ficulties attending a want of funds. 
The newspapers published in Dov- 
er have been the " Political P.epos- 
itory Sz Strafford Recorder," c-mi- 
menced July 15, 1790; discontin- 
L2 



ued Jan. 19, 1792. "The Phosnix," 
from Jan. 23,1 792, to Aug. 29, 1 795. 
"The Sun," &c. commenced Sept. 
5, 1795, and was succeeded by the 

"Strafford Register" in . T'lie 

" JS'^ew- Hampshire Republican,'" by 
Chas. W. Cutter, commenced Jan. 
8, 1823. The library here belongs 
to an incorporated society, and con- 
tains about 350 volumes. The j>jin- 
cipal manufactories in this place be- 
long to a company of gentlemen in- 
corporated in 1820, and styled the 
" Dover Cotton Factory Company." 
Tiieir capital is $500,000. About 
3 miles above Cocheco falls, on tiie 
same stream, they have a cotton 
factory, which carries 2,500 spin- 
dles, employs 86 looms, 120 persons, 
and produces per week 10,000 yds. 
sheeting and shirting. At the falls 
a brick building was erected in 1820 
to be used as a rolling and slitting- 
mill, a nail factory and a machine 
shop. About 1000 tons of iron are 
here rolled and slit, and 700 tons 
manufactured into nails annually. 
A new factory has just been erfct- 
ed, designed to contain 4,000 spin- 
dies, 120 or 130 looms, and calcula- 
ted to produce, when in operation, 
20,000 yards per week. Near this, 
are six sites for factories or mills, 
equally as good as those now occu- 
pied. That these factories, and oth- 
ers in contemplation, ..will exert an 
important influence on the business 
and wealth of the town, is confi- 
dently expected. The friends were 
established iiere at an early period, 
and formerly comprised about one 
third of the population. The con- 
gregational society is the most an- 
cient of any in Dover. The church 
with which it is united in the sup- 
port of public worship was organiz- 
ed in 1633, about 15 years after the 
first settlement of the town. Accor- 
ding to the usage of many churches 
at that time, it elected as officers a 



118 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



pastor, ruling elders and deacons. 
IVo account is found of ruling eld- 
ers in the church here later than 
1662. At that time there were three 
— Nutter, Wentworth and Starbuck 
Wentworth preached occasionally 
and was ancestor to the several gov 
ernors of the name. There being 
no well defined and efficient gov 
ernment, civil or ecclesiastical, a- 
dopted by those who first settled N. 
Hampshire, the people of Dover 
were subject to a variety of trou- 
bles, — not the least considerable of 
which originated immediately from 
the character of their ministers. 
The first who appeared among them 
and probably the first who preach- 
ed the gospel in New-Hampshire, 
was Mr. Leveiich, a worthy puri- 
tan. He was sent from England by 
the Lords Say and Brooke, with a 
promise of support ; but tlie en- 
couragement given proving too 
small, he removed to the south. — 
Between the period of his removal 
and 1642, we find as preachers here 
George Burdet, Hanserd Knollys 
and Thos. Larkham ; all of whom 
appear to have been destitute of a 
moral character. Being relieved 
of these men, the people were for 
some time destitute of preaching. 
In 1642, Daniel Maud, a pious min- 
ister, was settled, who died in 1655. 
He was succeeded by Rev. John 
Reyner, who came from England, 
and was minister of the church at 
Plymouth from 1636 till 1654. He 
continued at Dover until his death, 
April 3, 1669. His successor vi^as 
Rev. John Reyner, jun., who grad- 
uated at Harvard College in 1663 ; 
was ordained in 1671. Rev. John 
Pike was his successor, and died 
in March, 1710. Rev. Nicholas 
Sever succeeded, but was soon dis- 
missed on account of an impedi- 
ment in his speech. Rev. Jonathan 
Gushing was ordained Sept. 1717; 



died March, 1769. Rev. Jeremy 
Belknap, the historian of New- 
Hampshire, was ordained colleague 
with Mr. Gushing Feb, 1767 ; and 
in 1786, was dismissed, and remov- 
ed to Boston. Rev. Robert Gray 
was ordained Feb. 1787; removed 
May,1805. Rev.Galeb H.Sherman, 
ordained May, 1807, was dismissed 
May, 1812 ; "at which time Rev. 
Joseph W. Clary was ordained. 
The methodist society in this town 
was incorporated in 1819. This 
town in its early years was greatly 
frequented by the Indians ; acd ex- 
perienced many sufferings in their 
repeated attacks upon the inhabit- 
ants. In 1675, Maj. Waldron by a 
stratagem secured about 200 In- 
dians at Dover, who had at times 
exhibited signs of hostility. Seven 
or eight of them, who had been 
guilty of some atrocities, were im- 
mediately hanged, and the rest sold 
into slavery. The Indians abroad 
regarded this act of Waldron as a 
breach of faith, and swore against 
him implacable revenge. In 1689, 
after a lapse of 13 years, they de- 
termined to execute their project. 
Previous to the fatal night (27th of 
June) some hints had been thrown 
out by the squaws, but they were 
either misunderstood or disregard- 
ed ; and the people suffered them 
to sleep in their garrisons as usual. 
In the stillness of night the doors of 
the garrisons were opened, and the 
Indians, at a concerted signal, rose 
from their lurking places, and nish- 
ed upon the defenceless inhabit- 
ants. Waldron, though 80 years 
of age, made a gallant defence, but 
was overwhelmed by the superior 
numbers of his adversaries, who 
literally cut him to pieces. In this 
affair, 23 persons were killed, and 
29 made prisoners. Jan. 25, 1691, 
a young man in the woods near Do- 
ver was fired upon by a party of 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



119 



Indians. A body of citizens imme- 
diately went in pursuit, and killed 
or wounded nearly the whole party. 
This excited a temporary terror a- 
mong the Indians ; but,July 26th, 
1696, they attacked the people re- 
turning from worship, 3 were killed, 
several wounded and taken prison- 
ers. In Aug. 1704, Mark Giles was 
killed, and the people waylaid on 
their return from meeting. In 1706, 
William Pearl and Nathaniel Tib- 
bets were killed ; and in 1710, Ja- 
cob Garland met a similar fate. In 
the spring of 1711, this town was a- 
gain attacked by the Indians ; and I 
in April, 1712, a Mr. Tuttle was' 
killed. Aug. 29, 1723, the Indians 
again made their appearance at Do- 
ver, surprised the house of Joseph 
Ham, whom they killed, taking 3 of 
his children into captivity. As the 
particulars of the Indian attacks 
upon the inhabitants of this town 
are faithfully related by Dr. Bel- 
knap, whose history should be in 
the hands of every reader, we deem 
it unnecessary, even had we room, 
to go into detail. Garrison houses, 
having narrow windows, port holes, 
a projecting upper story and walls 
of solid timbers, are yet standing 
in Dover quite entire. Pop. about 
3000. 

DrewSville, a pleasant village 
on Connecticut river, in the town 
of Walpole, containing 30 dwelling 
houses, 250 inhabitants i a large 
cotton factory in successful opera- 
tion, 3 stores, a school-house, a spa- 
cious hotel, and a post-office. Fif- 
teen years since, the place where 
this neat and pleasant village is sit- 
uated, contained but a single dwel- 
ling, surrounded by pines and oaks, 
and presenting to the eye of the 
traveller the secluded retreat of a 
hermit. 

Dublin, a post-township in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 45° 54', is 



bounded N. by Nelson and Han- 
cock, E. by Peterborough, S. by 
JafFrey, W. by Marlborough and 
Roxbury, containing 26,560 acres. 
It is 10 miles from Keene, 50 from 
Concord and 70 from Boston. — 
Dublin is situated on the height of 
land between Connecticut and 
Merrimack rivers. Its streams are 
small ; those on the W. side run 
into the Ashuelot, those on the E. 
into Contoocook river. There is a 
pond near the middle of the town 
called Centre pond, one mile in 
length and about the same in 
breadth. In the N. part is North 
pond. A large pori*on of the Grand 
Monadnock lies in the N. W. part 
of Dublin, and near the centre of 
the town is Breed's mountain. — 
Monadnock v)fes formerly covered 
with a growth of small timber and 
shrubbery, but fires having run over 
it at different times, it presents lit- 
tle more than ragged rocks. Be- 
tween the rocks,however, there are 
low whortleberry bushes, which 
produce great quantities of fruit of 
a very rich flavor. The season for 
ripening is the latter part of Aug- 
ust, and to those who ascend the 
summit at this season, they are pe- 
culiarly grateful. The soil is rocky 
and hard of cultivation. The land 
in general is much better for graz- 
ing than tillage. There is a hand- 
some congregational meeting-house 
built in 1818, standing on such an 
elevation, that the rain which falls 
from the W. roof runs into the Con- 
necticut, and that from the E. roof 
into the Merrimack. The baptist 
meeting-house is in the N. W. part 
of the town. There are 10 school 
districts, which average about 50 
scholars to each district. The late 
Rev. Edward Sprague bequeathed 
nearly 8000 dollars for the support 
of public schools, the annual inter- 
est of which is to be applied to this 



120 



NEW-HAM /SHIRE GAZETTEER. 



object. He also left the town 
^5000, the interest of which paid 
quarterly, is to be applied to the 
support of an ordained congrega- 
tional minister who shall statedly 
preach in Dublin. Besides this 
liberal provision for the support of 
the gospel.the town has $3000 aris- 
ing from the -sale of ministerial 
lands, and the interest of this sum 
is to be applied to the same purpose. 
There is a social library, incorpora- 
ted in 1797, and containing 110 
volumes. There is a ladies' libra- 
ry instituted in 1802,containing 140 
volumes. The Dublin musical so- 
ciety was incorporated in June, 
1821. Dublin, originally called J\Io- 
nadnock JVo. 3, was granted Nov. 3, 
1749 to Matthew Thornton, Samp- 
son Stoddard and others. It was 
incorporated by charter, March 
29, 1771. The first settlements 
wcreinI762by John Alexander, 
Henry Strongman, and William 
Scott, who were natives of Ireland, 
from the capital of x\hich country, 
the town was called Dublin. Other 
settlers, principally from Massachu- 
sotts, soon arrived, of whom u'ere 
Thomas, John and Eli Morse, Ben- 
jamin Mason, Samuel Twitchell, 
Moses Adams, Silas Stone, and 
William McNee. The congrega- 
tional church was formed June 10, 
1772, and Rev. Joseph Farrar was 
ordained at the same time. He 
xva.s dismissed Jan. 7, 1776. Rev. 
Edward Sprague was ordained No- 
vember 12, 1777, and died Dec. 16, 
1817, aged 63. Rev. Levi W. 
Leonard was ordained Sept. 6, 
1820. The baptist church was or- 
ganized Nov. 5, 1785. Rev. KtijaJi 
Vf'^illard was ordained June 5, 1793. 
This church is composed of mem- 
bers belonging to Dublin and sever- 
al of the adjacent towns. The 
following persons have received a 
pub ic education, all at Dartmouth. 



Asa Bullard, 1793 ; Amos Twitch- 
ell, 1802 ; Amos Allen, 1808 ; Eb- 
enezer Morse, 1810 ; Samuel 
Morse, 1811 ; Thomas Hardy, 
1812 ; Daniel Elliot, 1813. The 
number of deaths for 6 years prece- 
ding 1822, was 94. Pop. 1620. 

DuMMEB., township, Coos co. is 
in lat. 44° 37', bounded N. by Mills- 
field and Errol, E. by Cambridge, 
S. by Paulsburgh, W. by Kilkenny, 
and comprises 23,040 acres. It was 
granted March 8, 1773, to Mark H. 
Wentworth, Nathaniel A. Haven 
and others ; is watered by the Am- 
onoosuck and Ameriscoggin ; and 
contains but 27 inhabitants. 

Dumbarton, a post-township 
in Hillsborough county,' in lat. 43° 
5', is bounded N. by Hopkinton 
and Bow. E. by Bow and Hooksett, 
S. by Gofistown and W. by Weare, 
containing about 21,000 acres. It 
is 7 miles from Hopkinton, 9 from 
Concord, and 65 from Boston. 
The situation of this town is some- 
what elevated, though there are 
hut few hills, nor any mountains. 
The air is clear, the water is good, 
and the health of its inhabitants is 
seldom interrupted by sickness. 
The forest trees are principally 
chesnut, pine and oak. The soil 
is good, peculiarly suited for corn, 
wheat and orcharding. Almost ev- 
ery lot in town is capable of mak- 
ing a good farm. The farmers here 
have good buildings and are excel- 
lent husbandmen. There are few 
towns in the county, in passing 
j through which, we see so many good 
houses as in Dunbarton. The ad- 
vantages in point of water privileg- 
es are not great. There is a social 
library incorporated in 1793, con- 
taining about 180 volumes. There 
are several charitable and religious 
associations. The inhabitants are 
principally descendants of Scotch 
Irish, so called, from the N. of Ire» 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



121 



land. Most of the first settlers 
came from Londonderry in this 
state, but several were originally 
from Scotland and Ireland. Their 
posterity still retain many traits of 
character peculiar to that people. 
Dunbarton was granted in 1751, to 
Archibald Stark, Caleb Page and 
others, by the Masonian Proprie- 
tors. It was first called Starks- 
Town, in honor of the principal 
proprietor. Its present name is 
derived from Dumbarton in Scot- 
land, from whence Stark emigrated. 
The first settlement was made a- 
bout 1749, by Joseph Putney, James 
Rogers, William Putney and Oba- 
diah Foster. These families settled 
in the E. part of the town. Capt. 
Caleb Page, from that part of Ha- 
verhill, now Atkinson, was one of 
the first settlers — was proprietors' 
clerk many years, and held several 
of the first offices in town after it 
was incorporated. Archibald Stark 
resided in Manchester. He was a 
man of considerable influence and 
possessed a large landed property. 
Two of his sons, William and Arch- 
ibald, were early settlers. Wil- 
liam held several civil offices and 
was colonel of the militia. Wil- 
liam Stinson was born in Ireland, 
came to Londonderry with bis fa- 
ther. He was much respected and 
was a useful man. James Rogers 
was from Ireland, and father to 
Major Robert Rogers. He was 
shot in the woods, being mistaken 
for a bear. [See Hist. Collections 
Vol. 1, p 240.] The congregation- 
al church was formed June 18, 
1789, by Rev. Messrs. Waters and 
Cram. Rev. Walter Harris was 
ordained August 26, 1789. There 
have been two periods of attention 
to religion in this place, viz. in 
1792—3, when 80 were added to 
the church, and in 1816, when there 



was an increase to its number of 
40. Pop. 1450. 

Dunstable, a post-township in 
Hillsborough county, inlat. 42° 44', 
is bounded N. by the town of Mer- 
rimack, E. by' Merrimack river, 
which separates it from Notting- 
ham-West, S. by Tyngsborough and 
Dunstable, Ms. and W. by HoUis, 
containing 18,878 acres. It is 13 
miles from Amherst, 34 from Con- 
cord, and 34 from Boston. The 
soil has considerable variety. It is 
easy of cultivation, and is general- 
ly productive. The east part of 
the town lying on the river presents 
a very level surface. The W. 
parts are more divided into hills and 
valleys, but the whole township 
may be considered far from being 
hilly or mountainous. It is wa- 
tered by the Nashua river, a fer- 
tilizing stream, which rises in the 
state of Massachusetts, and Sal- 
mon-Brook, a small stream which 
originates from several ponds in 
Groton. Both of these empty into 
Merrimack river, the former at 
Nashua village, the latter about one 
and a half miles below. On Sal- 
mon brook are 2 grist mills, 1 saw 
mill, 1 fulling mill, and 4 tripham- 
mer shops, at which are annually 
manufactured 1500 dozen of hoes, 
besides scytiies, axes, &c. The 
road form Boston to Amherst pas- 
ses through this town nearly paral- 
lel with the Merrimack. There is 
a handsome meeting house, erected 
in 1812, and a number of dwelling 
houses, which constitute a pleasant 
village. In the N. E. part of the 
town on Nashua river is the largest 
village in town, and the place of 
greatest business. (See JVashua 
Village.) There is a library con- 
taining about 300 volumes. Dun- 
stable is the oldest town in Hillsbo- 
rough county. It was granted about 
the year 1672 to five individuals, 



122 



NEW.HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



and included Litchfield, a cornerj 
of Londonderry, Nottingham- West, 
Tyngsborough and Dunstable in 
Mass., Pepperell, as far as the orig- 
inal line of Groton, Townsend, 
Hollis, Brookline, and all that part 
of Milford, Amherst and Merri- 
mack, S. E. of Souhegan river. It 
was settled about the time it was 
granted. Its name was given in 
compiinient to Mrs.Tyng, who, it is 
SHid, came from Dunstable, in Bed- 
fordsiiire, Eng. Her hust)and, the 
Hon. Edward Tyng, emigrated to 
New-England about 1630 ; settled 
in Dunstable soon after its incor- 
poration, and died in Dec. 1681, 
aged 90. The names of Weld, 
Blanchaid,\Valdo,Cumings,French, 
Lovewell, Farwcll, Lund and Col- 
burn were among the early inhab- 
itants of the town, which, in 1680, 
contained 30 families. Dunstable 
was for a long time a frontier town, 
and the first settlers were many 
times annoyed by the Indians in 
the successive wars in which this 
country was engaged with them. 
In the war with the famous Narra- 
ganset sachem, this town was much 
exposed, and some of the inhabit- 
ants fled to older settlements. In 
the spring of 1702, the town was 
attacked, and several persons, with 
the Rev. Thomas Weld, the fust 
minister, were killed. In 1724, two 
men being missing, a scout of 
eleven went in quest of them, who 
were faed upon by thirty of the en- 
emy, and nine of them were killed. 
The other two made their escape, 
though one of theni was badly 
wounded. In Lovewell's war, the 
company from this town under the 
brave Capt. John Lovewell, acqui- 
red an imperishable name. Their 
successes at first and misfortu..es 
afterwards have been often repeat- 
ed and are generally known. They 
vjexe for many years kept in fresh 



remembrance by a popular song, 
which, after the lapse of a century, 
has not yet sunk into oblivion. 
From this homely effusion of grat- 
itude to the memory of such hero- 
ic spirits, the praises of the "worthy 
Capt. Lovewell" and his coadju- 
tors, often resounded from the hum- 
ble cottage of the poor and the 
stately mansion of the opulent. 
Dunstable belonged to Massachu- 
setts till the divisional line between 
the two provinces of Mass. and 
N. H. were settled in 1741. It was 
incorporated by N. H. April 1, 
1746. The congregational church 
was gathered in 1685. Its original 
members were Ptev. Thomas Weld, 
j Jonathan Tyng, John Cumings, 
jjohn Blanchard, Cornelius Waldo, 
i Samuel Warner, Obadiah Perry 
and Samuel French. Rev. Thom- 
las Weld, from Roxbury, who grad- 
luated at Harvard College in 1671, 
.was ordained Dec. 16, 1685, and 
was killed by the Indians in April 
I or May, 1702. Rev. Nathaniel 
i Prentice, who graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1715, was the suc- 
cessor of Mr. Weld. He died Feb. 
25,1737. Rev. Josiah Swan, who 
graduated at Harvard college in 
1733, was ordained Dec. 27, 1738, 
and was dismissed in 1746 Rev. 
Simon Bird, from Dorchester, was 
ordained Aug. 31, 1747; dismissed 
1751. The settlement of Mr. Bird 
caused a division in the church and 
town. A new church was formed, 
and another meeting house erected. 
After his dismission the two church- 
es were united. Rev. Joseph Kid- 
der, from Billerica, a graduate from 
Yale College in 1764, was the next 
minister. He was ordained March 
18,1767; his civil contract was 
dissolved June 15, 1796; he died 
Sept. 6, 1818, aged 77. Rev. Eb- 
enezer P. Sperry was ordained as 
colleague with Mr. Kidder, Sept. 3, 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



123 



1813, and dismissed in April, 1819. 
Hon. Jonathan Blanchard, 

who was a delegate from N. Hamp- 
shire to the continental congress, 
during the confederation of the 
states, was a native and resident in 
this town. In conjunction with the 
Rev. Dr. Langdon, he published a 
map of New-Hampshire, which was 
inscribed to the Hon. Charles 
Townsend, Esq., his Majesty's sec- 
retary at war, and one of the privy 
council. He was the judge of pro- 
bate in Hillsborough county, and 
was much in public business till 
his death in 1788. Pop. 1142. 

DuRAND, an incorporated town- 
ship in tlie county of Coos, lat. 
44°22'is situated directly under the 
north end of the White Mountains 
its S. E. corner boundmg on the 
base of Mount Madison, the E. 
peak of the range. It has Maynes- 
borough on the N.,Shelburne E.,and 
Kilkenny W. It contains about 
26,680 acres. Branches of Israel's 
and Moose rivers pass through Du- 
rand. The soil is in some parts 
good, but the town increases slow- 
ly in its settlements. It was grant- 
ed Aug. 20, 1772, to John Durand 
and others, of London. Joseph 
Wilder and Stephen Jillson were 
the first settlers. Pop. 78. 

DuRHAM,a post-town in Strafford 
CO., adjoining Rockingham, in lat. 
43° 7',is bounded N.E. by Madbury, 
E. and S. E. by Little and Great 
Bays, S. by New-Market, and W. 
by Lee, comprising 14,970 acres. 
The situation of this town upon 
the Pascataqua and its branches, 
is very favorable both as to water 
power and transportation. Oys- 
ter river, one of the branches of 
the Pascataqua, issues from Wheel 
Wright's pond in Lee, and after run- 
ing nearly its whole course in Du 
ham, furnishing in its progress sever- 
al convenient mill seats.falls into the 



main river near Pascataqua bridge. 
The tide flows in this branch up to 
the falls near the meeting-house in 
the village, where business to a 
large amount is annually transac- 
ted. This village contains 68 
dwelling-houses, and about 550 in- 
habitants ; and is a very central 
depot for the lumber and produce 
of the adjacent country ; the water 
carriage hence to Portsmouth being 
as convenient as from the head of 
the tide of any other branch of the 
Pascataqua. Lamprey river, anoth- 
er branch of the Pascataqua, runs 
through the westerly part of this 
town over several falls remarkably 
well adapted for mill seats into the 
town of New-Market, where it falls 
into the Great Bay. The soil of 
this town is generally hard and sto- 
ny, lying for the most part through- 
out the town upon a chain of gran- 
ite ledges, which appear to be of 
primitive formation — but where it 
meets with proper cultivation, it is 
very productive in the usual crops 
adapted to this climate. Upon 
both sides of Oyster river, a deep 
argillaceous loam prevails, which 
is peculiarly favorable to the pro- 
duction of the grasses, of which 
very heavy crops are cut, and hay 
is an article of considerable export. 
The extensive ledges before allu- 
ded to have been the source of 
much profitable employment to the 
inhabitants of this town. From 
the excellent quality of the stone, 
the skill with which it is prepared, 
and the convenience of water car- 
riage, there has been a constant de- 
mand from many of the neighbor- 
ing towns for underpinning, step?, 
mill-stones, Slc. A large block of 
detached granite in the southeast 
part of this town was formerly pla- 
ced in a very singular situation. 
Its weight was 60 or 70 tons, and it 
was poised so exactly upon two 



124 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



other stones as to be visibly moved 1 
by the wind. It was some years i 
since dislodged from this extraor 
dinary position by the barbarous 
curiosity of some visitors, who 
after much labor succeeded in pry- 
ing it from its balance by levers. 
About one half of that part of 
Pascataqua bridge N. of Goat Isl- 
and is within the limits of this 
town. The town is very well ac- 
eoramodated with other bridges 
and roads. Durham was original- 
ly a part of Dover, and included 
in Hilton's patent ; but soon after 
its settlement was formed into a 
distinct parish by the name of Oys- 
ter river, from the stream which 
passes through it. From the abun- 
dance of excellent oysters found 
in its waters, this river probably de-j 
rived its name, and it was a famous] 
rendezvous of the Indians, eepec 
ially at the point about a mile from 
the junction of Oyster river with the 
Pascataqua. In September, 1675, 
the Indians made an attack at Oys- 
ter river, burned two houses, kill- 
ed several men and carried away 
two captives. Two days after this 
attack they made another, destroy- 
ed several houses and killed two 
persons. In 1694, when a large 
part of the inhabitants had march- 
ed to the westward, the Indians 
who were dispersed in the woods 
about Oyster river, having diligent- 
ly observed the number of men in 
one of the garrisons, rushed upon 
eighteen of them, as they were go- 
ing to their morning devotions, and 
having cut off their retreat to the 
house put them all to death except 
one, who fortunately escaped. 
They then attacked the house, in 
which there were only two boys 
beside the women and children. 
The boys kept them off for some 
time and wounded several of them. 
At length the Indians set fire to the 



house and even then the boys would 
not surrender till the Indians had 
promised to spare their lives. The 
latter however perfidiously mur- 
dered throe or four children, one 
of whom they fixed upon a sharp 
j stake in the view of its mother. 
The women and children were car- 
iried captive, but one of the boys 
made his escape the next day. The 
next spring the Indians narrowly 
watched the frontiers to determine 
the safest and most vulnerable 
points of attack. The settlement 
at Oyster river was selected for 
destruction. Here were twelve 
garrisoned houses, amply sufficient 
for the reception of the inhabitants, 
but not apprehending any danger, 
many of the families remained in 
their unfortified houses, and those 
who were in the garrisons were 
but indifferently prepared for a 
siege, as they were destitute of 
powder. The enemy approached 
the place undiscovered and halted 
near the falls. One John Dean, 
whose house stood near the falls, 
happening to rise very early for a 
journey before the dawn of day, 
was shot as he came out of his 
door. The attack now commen- 
ced on all points, where the ene- 
my was ready. Of the twelve 
garrisoned houses five were des- 
troyed, Adams,' Drew's, Edgerly's, 
Meader's, and Beard's. The en- 
emy entered Adams' without resis- 
tance, where they murdered four- 
teen persons, whose graves can 
still be traced. Drew surrendered 
his garrison on promise of securi- 
ty, but he was put to death. One 
of his children, only nine years 
old, was compelled to run through 
a line of Indians as a mark for their 
hatchets. Edgerly's garrison was 
evacuated, the people having fled 
to their boats, one of whom was 
mortally wounded in attempting to 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



125 



escape. Beard's and Meader's 
were also evacuated and their in- 
habitants escaped. The unfortifi- 
ed houses were all set on fire, the 
people being either put to death or 
captured in them. Some escaped, 
concealing themselves in the bush- 
es and elsewhere. Thomas Edg- 
erly having hid himself in his cel- 
lar preserved his house, though it 
was twice set on fire. The house 
of John Buss the minister was des- 
• troyed, together with his valuable 
library. He was absent at the 
time, and his wife and family fled 
to the woods. Many other cruel- 
ties were perpetrated, when the 
Indians fearing that the inhabitants 
from the neighboring settlements 
would collect against them, retreat- 
ed, having killed or captured be- 
tween 90 and 100 persons and des- 
troyed 20 houses, 5 of which were 
garrisoned. In 1703, the Indians 
made another incursion and killed 
one man. In 1704, several per- 
sons were murdered bv them ; and 
in 1705, a small party attacked the 
house of John Drew, where they 
put eight people to death and 
wounded several others. May 22, 
1707, two men were captured from 
Durham, and two others were mur- 
dered as they were on a journey 
from that tov/n to Dover. In Sep- 
tember following, a party of Mo- 
hawks attacked a company of peo- 
ple, who were at work in the woods 
under the direction of Capt. Ches- 
ley. At the first fire they killed 7 
and wounded another. Chesley, 
with his few surviving companions, 
continued a brisk fire on the ene- 
my, and for some time kept them 
off, but at length fell, overpowered 
by numbers. He was deeply la- 
mented as Ji brave officer. In 
1724, the Indians made another in- 
cursion into this town, formed an 
nmbush near the road and murdereci' 
M 



several persons. Minute accounts 
of these disasters are given in Bel- 
knap's Hist. N. H., to which the 
reader is referred. The first preach- 
er who statedly officiated in Dur- 
ham was John Buss ; but he never 
was ordained. He died 1736, at the 
age of 108. Rev. Hugh Adams set- 
tled March 26, 1 7 1 8 ; dismissed 1 739. 
Rev. Nicholas Oilman settled in 
1741; died 1748. Rev. John Ad- 
ams settled 1748 ; dismissed 1778. 
Rev. Curtis Coe settled Nov. 1, 
1780; dismissed 1806. Rev. Fed- 
eral Bv,rt was ordained June 18, 
1817. There are also methodist 
and baptist societies in this town. 
Durham social library was incorpo- 
rated June 20, 1815, and contains 
upwards of 400 volumes. The av- 
erage number of deaths for ten 
years is 16. Maj. Gen. John Sul- 
livan, of the revolutionary army, 
was a resident of this town, and 
died here Jan. 23, 1795. He was 
a native of Berwick, Me. ; was 
a distinguished commander during 
the war ; was president of the 
state three years, and afterwards 
district judge of N. H. On all oc- 
casions, he proved himself the fijrm 
supporter of the rights of the coun- 
try. Hon. Ebbnezer Thomp- 
SOS' was a native of this town. 
He sustained several offices dur- 
ing the revolution, and was an ef- 
ficient legislator and a respectable 
lawyer. Col. Winborn Adams, 
of the revolutionary army, was a 
citizen of Durham. Hon. George 
FFROST.of this town was a delegate 
in Congress for 1776, 7 and 9 ; a 
judge of the common pleas in Straf- 
ford, and subsequently chief jus- 
tice of that court. He died at 
Durham, June 21, 1796, aged 77. 
Durham was incorporated May 13, 
1738. Pop. in 1820—1538. 



im 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



E. 

East-Kingston, a township, in 
Eockingham county, in lat, 42° 57', 
is bounded N. by Exeter, E. by 
Kensington, S. by South-Hampton, 
W. and N. W. by Kingston, of 
which it formerly constituted a 
part — containing about 3 square 
miles. Its soil is of an excellent 
quality, and well adapted to the 
cultivat'ion of grain and grass. 
Powow river crosses the S. W. 
part of this town, having its sour- 
ces in the ponds of Kingston. The 
town was incorporated Nov. 17, 
1738. Among the first settlers 
were William and Abraham Smith, 
who settled near the centre of the 
town. Rev. Peter Coffin was set- 
tled here in 1739 ; and was dismis- 
sed in 1772 — since which time 
they have had no stated preaching. 
They have a meeting-house, and 
several school-houses ; also mills 
and machinery sufficient for the 
use of the inhabitants. Pop. 443. 

Eaton, post-township, Strafford 
county, in lat. 43° 53', ; 71 railss 
from Concord, 41 from Gilford, 71 
from Portsmouth ; is bounded N. 
by Conway, W. by Burton and 
Tamworth, S. by Ossi' ee and Ef- 
fingham, E. by the state of Maine, 
and comprises 33,637 acres. The 
soil of the uplands, which are quite 
uneven, is moderately good, and 
the plains furnish excellent pine- 
timber. There are no rivers in 
this town ; the mill streams are fed 
principally by springs and small 
brooks. Six mile pond is in this 
town, and is about 3 miles long and 
from one half to one mile in width 
"—its waters discharge into Ossipee 
lake. There are several other 
smaller ponds in this town. Eaton 
was granted Nov. 7, 1766, to Clem 
ent March and 65 others. A bap- 



tist church was formed here in 
1800, which has now become ex- 
tinct. There are two free-will bap- 
tist societies, the first organized in 
1803, the latter in 1821. There is 
a woollen factory for making sal- 
tinetts, &c. and several mills. Pop. 
1071. This town is the only in- 
stance in the state where the pop- 
ulation has doubled within the last 
ten years. Iron ore in considera- 
ble quantity, exists among the ledg- 
es in this town, and is judged to be 
of good quality. 

Effingham, post-town, Straf- 
ford county, in lat. 43° 44^, is 
bounded N.,W. & S.W. by Ossipee, 
S. by Wakefield,E. by Parsonsfield, 
Me., and contains about 34,900 
acres. There are several moun- 
tains of considerable elevation in 
this towru The Ossipee river pas- 
ses through this town, over which 
is a toll-bridge. There is a pond 
about 400 rods long and 270 wida» 
situated near this river. Province 
pond lies between Effingham and 
Wakefield. Effingham was settled 
a lew years prior to the revolution. 
It was then known by the name of 
LeaviWs Town. In 1775, it con- 
tained no more than 83 inhabita»ts. 
It was incorporated Aug. 18, 1778. 
Rev. Gideon Burt was settled pver 
the congregational church in 1803 ; 
dismissed in 1805; and the church 
is now vacant. A baptist chui'ch 
was formed here in 1808, and con- 
sists of 72 members. The Effing- 
ham academy was incorporated in 
1819, and is a respectable institu- 
tion. Pop. 1563 

Ellis' river, rises on the E. side 
of the White Mountains, In sever- 
al small streams, near the sources 
of Peabody river ; and separaiing 
ivuo two streams which unite ia 
Adams, it falls into the Saco a* 
Bartlelt. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



127 



Ellsworth, township, in Graf- 
ton county, in lat. 43° 54', is boun- 
ded N. by Peeling, E. by Thornton, 
S. by Rumney, and W. by War- 
ren, containing 16,606 acres. It is 
52 miles from Concord and 84 from 
Portsmouth. It is a mountainous 
tract of territory — the most prom- 
inent elevation is Carr's mountain, 
situated in the N. and extending 
to the central part of the town. A 
small stream issues from West 
Branch pond in the S. E. part of 
Ellsworth, and runs into the Pem- 
igewasset at Campton. The soil, 
though in some parts sterile pro- 
duces wheat, rye, corn, oats, &c. 
The forest trees are various kinds, 
having a considerable proportion 
of hard wood. Maple sugar is 
made here, and clover seed is rai- 
sed in considerable quantities. 
This town, formerly called Tre- 
iothick, w^ granted May 1, 1769, 
to Barlow Trecothick. There is a 
small baptist society, over which 
Israel Blake has presided. Pop. 
213. 

Enfield, a post town in the 
S. W. part of Grafton county, in 
lat. 43° 36', is bounded N.E. by Ca- 
naan, S. E. by Grafton, S. W. by 
Grantham, and W. by Lebanon, 
comprising 24,060 acres, of which 
about 2500 acres are water. It is 
;[2 miles S. E. from Dartmouth Col- 
lege, 42 miles from Concord, and 
105 from Boston. Its surface is 
fliiversified with hills and valleys, 
*nd watered by a variety of ponds 
and streams, stored with fish of 
every species common to the coun- 
try. Mascomy pond, which has ac- 
quired from travellers the appella- 
tion of Pleasant pond, is a beautiful 
collection of water, 4 miles in 
length and of various breadth, in- 
terspersed with islands and check- 
ered with inlets. Its eastern banks 
are eoyered with trees, which, as 



the hill ascends, gradually rise one 
above another for some distance. 
Along the western bank, betweea 
the pond and Mont Calm, within a 
fewrodsofthe water, extends the 
4th N. H. turnpike, the whole dis- 
tance through a beautiful village, 
shaded to the north on either side 
by a second growth of trees. Mas* 
corny river, which takes its rise in 
Dorchester, and runs through Ca* 
naan, empties into this pond in the 
N. W. part. It is supposed to have 
been once much higher than it now 
is, and the plain and villages to the 
south, are supposed to have been 
the bed of it. This fact is sufficient- 
ly evident from the ancient shore 
still remaining round the pond, a- 
bout 30 feet above high water, and 
from logs having been frequently 
found 12feet below the surface of the 
plain once flowed. Its fall appears 
to have been sudden, by an altera- 
tion of the outlet. On the W. bank 
near the southern extremity, is the, 
Shaker's settlement, too much re- 
marked to need particular descrip- 
tion. It is raised on a fertile plain : 
the structure of the buildings,though 
not lofty, are neat and convenient : 
the inhabitants are peculiar in their 
manners and dress, in their econo- 
my and religion. They occupy ab- 
bout 1000 acres of land, and their 
number consists of about 200. — 
Fifty-eight persons have died since 
the formation of the society. — 
They are agriculturalists and me* 
chanics. Garden seeds, wooden 
ware, whips, corn brooms, leather, 
and various other articles are man- 
ufactured by them. They first 
made their appearance here in ■ 
1782. They were gathered into the 
order of a church in 1792, under 
the ministration of Elder Job Bish- 
op. The religious sentiments of 
the different branches of this com- 
munity are similar, and the reader 



12S 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



will find a more particular notice 
(see page 92,) under ttie head of 
Gaaterbury. In the east part of the 
town is East pond, 1 1-2 miles long 
and 3-4 of a mile wide. Mud pond 
is mostly in Canaan. Besides 
these, there are Spectacles pond, 
so called from its figure; George 
pond, and Mountain pond, on the 
summit of Mont Calm, 200 rods 
long, and 100 rods wide. At the 
outlets of these ponds are mills. — 
At the base of Mont Calm, a moun- 
tain in the southerly part of the 
town, iron ore has been found, 
which has be«n pronounced by 
Professor Dana to be of an excellent 
quality. The town was formerly 
called Relhan, and was incorpora- 
ted by charter, granted to Jedediah 
Dana and others, July 4th, 1761. — 
The first settlers were Nathaniel 
Picknell, Jonathan Paddleford and 
Elisha Bingham. Elias, the son of 
the last named, was the first male 
child born in town. The congrega- 
tional church had Rev. Edward Ev- 
ans for the first minister. He was 
settled in Dec. 1799; dismissed in, 
1805. A free will baptist church 
was formed July 31, 1816, over 
which Elder John Sweat presided 
about 5 years. Elder Ebenezer 
Chase took charge of tliis church, 
Jan. 1, 1822, and of the Religious 
Union Society, formed at that time 
under the late act of the legislature. 
"The Religious Informer," and the 
'"'Masonic Casket," both conducted 
by Elder Ebenezer Chase, are pub- 
lished in this town. Jesse John- 
son, Esq. was among the first set- 
tlers, was a member of the legisla- 
ture and a justice of the peace till 
his death in 1800. The late Hon. 
Jesse Johnson, his son, was the 
first justice of the peace appointed 
in Enfield, the first representative 
to the legislature, and one of the 
6r8t settlers. He was an intelligent 



and useful citizen. He came to 
this town when 17 years of age. — 
When 21, he was elected towa 
clerk,selectraan, representative,and 
was appointed justice of the peace. 
He was afterwards a member of 
the state- convention, which formed 
the constitution of N. H. ; judge of 
probate, and judge of the court of 
common pleas. He died Sept. 23, 
1816, aged 53. Pop. 1370. 

Epping, a post-town, in the coun- 
ty of Rockingham, lat. 43° 3', lies 
30 miles S. E. of Concord, 20 miles 
W. of Portsmouth, and 8 miles N. 
W. of Exeter, It is bounded on 
theN. by Nottingham and Lee, E. 
by New Market, Exeter and Brent- 
wood, S. by Brentwood and Poplin, 
and W. by Raymond and Notting- 
ham, ft was formerly a part of 
Exeter, and was incorporated Feb. 
12, 1741 ; and in 1742 the inhabi- 
tants held their first meeting. The 
town contains 12,760 acres, being 
nearly 20 square miles. The soil, 
in general, is very good, and well 
suited to raise the various produc- 
tions that grow in the state. Lam- 
prey river, at the v/est, receives the 
Patu^kaway, and runs through the 
whole length of the town. Anoth- 
er river runs through the N. part 
of the town, and from that circum- 
stance is called North river. The 
principal roads are in good repair ; 
and the town is gradually making 
them better. By observations ta- 
ken at 6 in the forenoon, at 1 and 
9 o'clock in the afternoon, from 
Fahrenheit's thermometer placed 
in the open air, 13 feet from the 
ground, and where the sun does 
not shine on the thermometer, the 
annual average of heat for 10 years 
ending 1818 was 44 1-12°. During 
that period the annual average that 
fell of [feet, inches, 10 20 40 80] 
rain, was 2 10 6 1 
& of snow, 6 7 2 1 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



In September 1783, the town con- 
tained 201 dwelling-houses, and 
21K) baj'ns and framed buildings. 
The congregationalists, quakers, 
baptists and methodists have now 
each a meeting-house. The first 
house of this kind was raised in 
the year 1750. The number of 
inhabitants are fewer than they 
were 40 years since. This is not 
owing to sickness or mortality, but 
to emigration. Most of the peo- 
ple are industrious, frugal agricul- 
turalists; the price of land, for 
many years, has been higher than 
in the adjacent towns ; and when 
a farm is sold, which is but seldom, 
it is usually divided amongst the 
adjoining neighbors : of course 
the number of inhabitants as well 
as farms has diminished. Pop, in 
1820, 1158. The present popula- 
tion is 58 to the square mile. With- 
in the last ten years the number of 
deaths in town has been 161, aver- 
aging 16 in a year. Though one 
fourth of the number died under 
ten years, the ages of the whole 
averaged 36 years and 4 months to 
each person. The town is divi- 
ded into 8 school districts ; and 
there is a school house in each 
district suited to the accommoda- 
tion of the scholars. The money 
for the support of schools is raised 
by a town lax, and expended in 
the several districts in proportion to 
the tax they pay, and not in pro- 
portion to the scholars in the dis- 
trict. In one of the districts a 
school is kept 9 or 10 months in the 
year, but in some other districts 
not more than 3 or 4 months annu- 
ally. William Plitmer, late 
governor of this state and one of 
its most distinguished and estima- 
ble cizizens, resides in this town. 
A considerable portion of his life 
has been employed in the service 
M2 



of the people, in the several sta- 
tions of representative and senator 
in the legislature, president of the 
Senate, speaker of the House of 
Representatives, representative and 
senator in Congress, and for fouE 
years as chief-magistrate of the 
state. Henry Dearborn, 
though not born in this town, lived 
here in early life with his parents 
for a number of years. He served 
as an officer in the army of the 
United States during the whole of 
the revolutionary war; was after- 
wards marshal of the district of 
Maine ; representative in Con- 
gress ; secretary of war of the Uni- 
ted States; collector of the customs 
of the port of Boston and Charles- 
town ; major-general of the army 
of the United States in the war of 
1812, and is now minister of the 
U. S. at Portugal. John Chan- 
dler was born in this town, and 
lived in it many years. He has 
been representative and senator 
in the Massachusetts legislature ; 
representative in Congress ; briga- 
dier-general in the army of the 
United States in the war of 1812; 
president of the senate in Maine ; 
and is now senator in Congress. 
There are several religious so- 
cieties of different sects. They 
are here enumerated, not accor- 
ding to their numbers, but the order 
of time in which they were estab- 
lished. 1. The congregationalists 
were the first settlers of the town, 
and for a number of years all the 
inhabitants were of that sect. Rev. 
Robert Cutler was their first min- 
ister ; he was ordained in 1747, 
and in 1755 was dismissed. March 
8, 1758, Rev. Josiah Stearns was 
ordained as his successor; he died 
.July 23, 1788 of a cancer, aged 57. 
In February 1793, Rev. Peter Holt 
was ordained ; and in 1821, at his 



1«0 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



own request, was dismissed. The 
members of this society are calvin- 
ists. 2. Quakers. — Though few 
in number they have existed in 
the town for more than half a cen- 
tury. As early as the year 1769, 
Jonathan Norris, one of their mem- 
bers, was imprisoned for not paying 
taxes to support the congregation- 
al minister ; but the town the next 
year released the constable from 
the tax ; and after that no distress 
was made upon the quakers for 
ministerial rates. Joshua Folsom, 
a native of the town, for many 
years was their preacher; he died 
December21,''1793, aged 72. His 
son, Benjamin Folsom, is now their 
principal speaker. 3. Baptists. — 
They formed a society and built a 
meeting-house about 50 years since. 
About that time the Rev. Dr. Sam- 
uel Shepard was ordained as a 
preacher over the society in Ep- 
ping, Stratham and Brentwood ; 
in each of those towns he preach- 
ed every third Sunday. He lived 
a number of years in Stratham, af- 
terwards removed to Brentwood, 
where he lived many years, and di- 
ed there November 1315, aged 77. 
For more than 50 years he was a 
useful practical physician. Since 
his death the society in Epping 
have had regular preaching a por- 
tion of the time. The members of 
this society are calvinists. 4, 
Methodists. — A society of this sect 
has existed in this town for about 
20 years, and have had different 
preachers for a portion of the time 
5. Free-will Baptists. — This sect 
has been in the town about 6 or 7 
years — they are more numerous 
than the calvinistic baptists, but 
have n«> minister settled over them. 
Epsom, post-town, Rockingham 
eounty, lat. 43° 12', lies 12 miles 
E. of Concord., bounded N. by 
Pittsfield, E. by Pserfield and 



Northwood, S.by Al]enstown,W.by 
Pembroke & Chichester, & contains 
an area of 19,200 acres. The surface 
of the town is generally uneven. 
The principal eminences are called 
M'Coy's, Fort, Nat's, and Notting- 
ham mountains. The soil is in 
general good, and well adapted for 
grazing or grain. Great and Little 
Suncook are the only streams de- 
serving the name of rivers ; the 
former passing through the town 
from the N., the latter a branch 
from the E. uniting near the centre 
of the town. Here are three 
ponds, Chesnut, Round and Odi- 
orne's. The mineralogy and ge- 
ology of Epsom have been partial- 
ly explored. Brown oxide, and 
sulphuret of iron are found, the 
latter most frequently in its decom- 
posed state. Varieties of quartz, 
feldspar and schorl are found. An 
alluvial deposite has been discover- 
ed, which Prof. Dana has ascer- 
tained to be Terra de Senna — it 
constitutes a very handsome and 
durable paint for cabinet work. 
It is found in the N. part of the 
town. Epsom was granted May 
18, 1727, to Theodore Atkinson 
and others, inhabitants of New- 
Castle, Rye and Greenland. Sev- 
eral families had previoKsly mov- 
ed into town. It received its name 
from Epsom in England. Rev. 
John Tucke was ordained here in 
1761, and dismissed in 1774. He 
died while on his way to join the 
American army as chaplain. Rev. 
Ebenezer Hazeltine, who was or- 
dained Jan. 21, 1784, died Nov. 10, 
1813, aged 59. Mr. H. was born 
at Methuen, Ms. Oct. 28, 1755, 
and graduated at Dartmouth Col- 
lege. Rev. Jonathan Curtis, who 
was born at Braintree, (now Ran- 
dolph) Ms. Oct. 22, 1786. and grad- 
uated at Dartmouth in 1811, was 
ordained Feb. 22, 1815 \ and his 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



131 



church consists of 115 members. 
Like all the other frontier towns, 
Epsom was exposed in its early 
settlement to the Indians. No se- 
rious injuries, however, were sus- 
tained. The Indians who subse- 
quently committed some mischiefs 
at Canterbury, after laying in wait 
for some time, on the 21st Aug. 
1747, took Mrs. McCoy from Ep- 
som, a prisoner, and sold her in 
Canada, from whence she returned 
at the close of the war. Depreda- 
tions were afterwards committed 
on the cattle in the neighborhood, 
the greater part of the inhabitants 
having fled to the garrisons in Not- 
tinghamo There is a social libra- 
ry in Epsom, containing 100 vol 
umes. The number of deaths 
from 1784 to 1813, was 286— an- 
nual average 9 1-2. Maj. An- 
drew M'ClARY, a native of this 
town, a gallant and meritorious of- 
ficer, fell at the battle of Breed's 
Hill, June 17,1775. Like the illus- 
trious Roman, he left his plough 
on the news of the massacre at 
Lexington, and in the action when 
he lost his life displayed great cool- 
ness and bravery. He was son of 
Andrew M'Clary, of Ireland, an 
early settler of Epsom. Hon. 
John M'ClART, an estimable cit- 
izen, was killed by the fall of a 
frame while raising, Dec. 13, 1821, 
at the age of 36 years. He was 
son of Gen. Michael M'Clary, and 
had been for several years a repre- 
sentative and senator in the state 
legislature. Pop. 1336. 

Errol, township, Coos county, 
in lat. 44° 43', is situated on the 
W. uf Umbagog lake, bounded N. 
by Wentworth's location, E. by the 
state of Maine, the line extending 
through the lake, S. by Cambridge 
and Dumnier, W. by Millsfield. It 
contains about 35,000 acres, of 
which 2,500 are water. Several 



considerable streams here unite 
with the Ameriscoggin, passing 
from the N. E. through this town. 
Errol was granted Feb. 28, 1774, 
to Timothy Ruggles and others. 
Pop. 26. 

Ervin's Location, in Coos 
county, is a tract of 3468 acres, 
granted June 2, 1775, toCapt. Wil- 
liam Ervin, of Boston. It is bound- 
ed N. by Dixville, E. by Millsfield, 
S. by public lands, W. by public 
lands and Columbia. It is at pres- 
ent uninhabited. 

ExETER,post-township,Rocking- 
ham county, in lat. 42° 59', is boun- 
ded N. by New-Market, E. by Strat- 
hara, S.E. by Hampton and Hamp- 
ton-falls, S. by Kensington and 
East-Kingston, and W. by Brent- 
wood and a corner of Epping. The 
ompact part of the town lies about 
the falls, which separate the fresh 
from the tide-water of a branch of 
the Pascataqua, called by the na- 
tives Squamscot, and now known 
by the name of Exeter river. 
Above the falls, this stream assumes 
the name of Great river, to distin- 
guish it from one of its smaller 
branches, called Little river. Great 
river has its source in Chester, 
whence it runs through several 
towns before it meets the tide-wa- 
ter in the centre of Exeter. On 
this river are many valuable mill 
orivileges ; and there are already 
erected upon it in Exeter, 1 cotton 
manufactory, 1 woollen, 3 corn 
mills, 3 saw mills, 2 oil mills, a pa- 
per manufactory and a bark mill : 
and on the same stream, just with- 
out the limits of the town, are a 
saw mill, a corn mill, and a cotton 
manufactory of 800 spindles, own- 
ed in Exeter. On Little river, 
there is 1 carding machine. In ad- 
dition to these, there is an estab- 
lishment for morocco dressing, 
where 20,000 skins are annually 



132 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



prepared, and 6 tanneries, some of 
them extensive. The town is pleas- 
antly situated on the banks of tlie 
river, and contains two congrega- 
tional churches, one baptist, a 
court-house, two printing offices, a 
bank with a capital of $100,000 
and an academy. Its soil is in 
general good, though comprehend- 
ing every variety, from that of the 
best quality to the least productive. 
Like most towns in the stale, it is 
essentially agricultural, and the 
improvement in the style of hus- 
bandry within the last fifteen years 
has been very great ; and within 
the same period, the number of in- 
dustrious and enterprising mechan- 
ics, to whom Exeter is now indebt- 
ed for her prosperity, has been very 
rapidly increasing. The sum rai- 
sed for the support of schools for 
many years, has been $1000 annu- 
ally ; and the average annual ex- 
penditure for the improvement of 
highways during the last ten years, 
$1300. The poor are supported 
on a farm purchased for that pur- 
pose in 1817 ; since which time, 
this new system has been in suc- 
cessful operation, and has not only 
rendered their condition much 
more comfortable, but reduced the 
expense of their support rather 
more than one third. The same 
establishment answers the purpo- 
ses of a house of correction. Phil- 
lips' Exeter academy was founded 
by the liberal donations of John 
Phillips, LL. D. in 1781, who at his 
death, in 1795, bequeathed to the 
institution a large portion of his 
estate. It is under the control of 
a board of seven trustees, three of 
whom only can reside in Exeter. 
Its instructors are a principal, a 
professor of mathematics and nat- 
ural philosophy, and an assistant. 
Lectures are delivered to the stu- 
<3ent8 by a theological instructor, 



who superintends this part of their 
education ; amd sacred music and 
writing, taught by separate instruc- 
tors. The number of students is 
usually between 80 and 90. No 
one under the age of 10 is admit- 
ted to the Latin department, and 
twelve is the age commonly requir- 
ed for admission to the English. 
The former embraces a full coarse 
of studies preparatory for college, 
with provision for those who choose 
to advance farther ; and the latter 
is arranged with a view to a com- 
plete education in English litera- 
ture and science. The present prin- 
cipal, Benjamin Abbot, LL. D. 
has discharged the duties of that 
office with distinguished ability for 
more than thirty years. The build- 
ing stands on a plain, near the cea- 
tre of the town, and is well provi- 
ded with accommodations for the 
different branches of instruction, 
and a large hall for declamation 
and the annual exhibitions. There 
are three terms in a year, with a 
vacation of three weeks each. A 
considerable part of the funds is de- 
voted to the purpose of aiding the 
poorer class of students. The set- 
tlement of Exeter commenced in 
1638,byJohn Wheelwright and oth- 
ers, who formed themselves into a 
body politic, chose their magis- 
trates, and bound the people to obe- 
dience. Their laws were made in 
popular assemblies ; and the com- 
bination thus entered into subsist- 
ed about three years. Wheelwright 
in 1629 had purchased of the In- 
dians the country between the Mer- 
rimack and Pascataqua, extending 
hack about 50 miles. In coase- 
quence of his antinomian opinions, 
he had been banished the colony 
of Mass., and sought refuge here. 
In 1642, Exeter was annexed to 
the county of Essex ; and Wheel- 
right, who was still under sentcHce 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



133 



of banishment, with a few adher- 
ents, removed to Maine. In 1643, 
upon a new arrangement of the 
tfounties, Exeter came under the 
jurisdiction of the county of Nor- 
folk. Various changes occurred 
until the final adjustment of the 
lines in 1741, suspended ail ex- 
citement on the subject of territo- 
rial limits between Mass. and IS. 
H. Exeter, like most of the early 
settlements, sufi'ered from the at- 
tacks of the Indians. In 1675, one 
person was killed between Exeter 
and Hampton, and another made 
prisoner; and other mischiefs were 
perpetrated. In 1695, two men 
were killed. In 1697, the town 
was providentially saved from des- 
truction. A body of Indians had 
lain in ambush, intending to make 
an assault on the following morn 
ing. By an accidental alarm, cau 
sed by a gun fired to frighten a few 
woman and children, who went in 
to the fields after strawberries con 
trary to tlie advice of their friends, 
the people were brought together 
inarms. Seeing this, the Indians 
supposed they were discovered, and 
precipitately retreated, killing one 
person, wounding anoth*r and tak- 
ing away a child. No further in- 
juries were committed until 1707, 
when another person was killed at 
Exeter. In the spring of 1709, 
Wiiliam Moody, Samuel Stevens, 
and two sons of Jeremy Oilman 
were taken at Pickpocket mill in 
Exeter, In 1710, they ambushed 
and killed Col. Winthrop Hilton, a 
meritorious citizen, with two oth- 
ers, taking two prisoners. Soon 
after this, they took four children 
and John Wedgewood from Exe- 
ter, and killed John Magoon. In 
April, 1712, a Mr. Cunningham 
was killed ; and depredations were 
made upon the property of the in- 
habitants. It does not appear that 



Exeter suffered much from the In- 
dians after this period. The first 
church in Exeter \Tas probably the 
first formed in this state ; it was 
founded in 1638, by Rev. Joha 
Wheelwright, a brother-in-law of 
the celebrated Anne Hutchinson, 
and cotemporary with Oliver Crom- 
well at the university. Wheel- 
wright reinc^'ed to Wells, Me. in 
1643, was afterwards minister at 
Hampton ; and died at Salisbury 
in 1680. The church at Exeter 
was broken up ; and a new church 
was afterwards organized, at what 
period it is uncertain. Over this 
church were successively ordained 
Rev. Samuel Dudley in 1650, who 
died in 1683, aged 77 ;— Rev. Joha 
Clarke, graduated at Harvard col- 
lege in 1690 ; ordained 1698 ; died 
in 1705, aged 35 ;-- -Rev. John Od- 
lin, in 1706 ; died 1754, aged 72 ; 

Rev. Woodbridge Odlin, in 

1743; died 1776, aged 57 ;— Rev. 
Isaac Mansfield, in 1776, who was 
removed in 1787; and Rev. Wil- 
liam F. Rowland in 1790. The 
second congregational church was 
formed in 1748, and Rev. Daniel 
Rogers, a descendant of the martyr 
John Rogers, ordained, who died 
in 1785, aged 79. His successor^ 
were Rev. Joseph Brown, ordain- 
ed 1792 and removed 1796; and 
Rev. /^aaci^Mrrf, ordained in 1817. 
Rev. Ferdinand Ellis is the or- 
dained minister of the baptist 
church in this place. Hon. SAM- 
UEL Tejvney, M. D. graduated 
at Harvard College in 1772; was 
an original member of the N. H. 
medical society,-and its vice presi- 
dent several years; a member of 
the Amer. Acad, of Arts and Sci- 
ences; an honorary member of the 
Mass. Med. Soc. ; was elected cor- 
responding member of Mass. Hist. 
Soc. Oct. 8, 1792 ; was elected a 
member of Congress in 1800, 1802, 



134 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



and 18§4. He died in 1815, aged 
— . He was a man of science and 
learning. Gen. NATHANIEL PBA- 
BODY was an original member of 
the N. H. Med. Society; was a 
member of the old Congress ; a sen- 
ator in 1792 ; and speaker of the 
House in 1793. Hon. Nicholas 
Oilman was a member of the old 
Congress, a senator in 1804, and 
President of the Senate ; a sena- 
tor in Congress from 1805, to his 
death in 1814. He died in Phila- 
delphia ; and is the only member of 
Congress, from this state, who died 
in office. Gen. NATHANIEL FoL- 
SOM was a member of the old Con- 
gress ; and a valuable revolution- 
ary officer. Hon. Jeremiah 
Smith, a native of Peterborough, 
was one ef the first representatives 
to Congress under the federal gov- 
ernment, was appointed Judge of 
S. C. of N. H. in 1802, was chief 
justice, and continued such till 
1809, when he was elected gover- 
nor. He was appointed chief jus- 
tice of S. J. C. in 1813. In 1804, 
he received the honorary degree of 
LL.D. from Dart. Coll. ; in 1807, 
the same from Harvard. Hon. 
John Taylor Gilman, a de- 
Scendent of one of the principal 
settlers at Exeter, was an active 
supporter of the revolution ; a 
member of the old Congress ; fil- 
led at times the offices of represen- 
tative and state treasurer ; and for 
fourteen years, between 1794 and 
1816, was governor of the state 
In 1794, he received the honorary 
degree of LL. D. from Dartmouth 
College. Exeter has at all periods 
of its history possessed eminent 
and useful men ; and some of the 
first lawyers and jurists, anti- 
quarians and scholars, have re- 
ceived their early education at its 
literary institutioa. Pop. in 1820, 
3114. 



F. 

FarMINGTON, post-town, Straf- 
ford CO., lat. 43° 20', was formerly 
a part of Rochester, but was incor- 
porated as a distinct town Dec. 1, 
1798. It has Milton on the N. E. 
Rochester S. E., Strafford S. W., 
New-Durham N. W. — its area a- 
bout 21,000 acres. It is distant 
from Concord in a line E. N. E. a- 
bout25 miles, but by the road usu- 
ally travelled nearly 40 ; from 
Portsmouth, in a direct line, N. W. 
by N. 26 miles. This is rather a 
broken township, much of the soil 
being rugged, but found to be pro* 
ductive when properly subdued by 
human industry. The interval is 
inconsiderable, though very fertile 
on the banks of the Cocheco, which 
meanders through the N. E. part of 
the town. The Blue Hills or 
Frost Mountains, extend nearly 
through the town under different 
names from N. to S. From the 
summit of the ridge in the S. E. 
part, here called Mount Wash ing- 
ton, ships may be seen by the na- 
ked eye off Portsmouth harbor ; 
while to the north and west the 
White Hills and the Monadnock, 
with hundreds of smaller mountains 

meet the eye of the beholder. 

There is not far from the village itt 
Farmington, a rock supposed to 
weigh from 60 to 80 tons,so exactly 
poised on otlier rocks.that it may be 
caused to vibrate several inches by 
the hand. There is a decent meet- 
ing-house in Farmington ; and a 
congregational church has recently 
been formed under the care of 
Rev. James Walker. There are 
many other professing christians of 
different denominations, but no 
church has been organized except 
that of the congregationalists. At 
the baak of the Cocheco, a Utile 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



13S 



more than a mile S. E. from the 
principal village, is a place called 
the Dock — so named from the cir- 
cumstance that the first settlers us- 
ually deposited their lumber here 
to be floated down the river. This 
name is sometimes ignorantly ap- 
plied to the village. Hon. Aarojv 
WiNGATE, for many years a mem- 
ber of the legislature, a counselloi 
from 1797 to 1803, and for some 
time chief-justice of the com- 



poration, Nov. 27, 1778. It recei- 
ved its name from John Fisher, 
who afterwards went to England. 
The first settlement was . made in 
the year 1762 by Zephaniali Clark, 
E^q. — There is a society of fr«e- 
will baptists. Pop. 874. 

FiTzwiLLiAM, a post-township, 
in Chesi:ire county, in lat. 42° 45', 
is bounded N. by Troy, E. by 
Rindge, S. by Royalstcn and Win- 
i cr>endoR, in MassachiTsetts, and W. 



mon pleas in Strafford, died here | ivy PicUmotid. It originally con- 
in 1822, aged 78 years. Fop.illained 26,?00 ncres, but by an act 
1716. jjuf the li;f\is]ature, passed Junr 23, 

FiSHERSFlELD, a post-town|| 1815, 4200 j^crfs of land i\'etc dis- 
in Hillsborough county, in lat. 43°!' .t iinexed from Fitzwiiliam, and now 
18', is bounded N. by New-London, jjconsiuute part ui" Troy. Fitzwil- 
E. by Sutton, S. by Bradford, WJIiiriiT' is IS miles from Keene, 60 
by Goshen and Wendell,contai)i"ngj|from Concord, and 65 from Boston. 
19,332 acres. It is 23 miles Irom]' Canp and Priest brooks, running iu 



Hopkinton, 40 from Air.hersi, ^5j 
from Concord, and 95 from B< :jion.| 
Though this town has a large pro-j 
portion of water,yettho!ve i:. no con- 
siderable stream within itb limits, i 



The S. part of Sunapte lak 
in the N. W. part- Todd pono., 
situated at the S. E. angle, SOL* rods 
in length, and 60 in width, affords a 
small branch to Warner river. Chalk 
povid is in the N. part, from which 
issues a small stream communica- 
ting with Sunapee Kke. In the 
W. pari of the town, there is a 
considerable elevalion of hills, and 
the land in that section is broken, 
but is suitable for grazing. The 
growth of wood in Fishersfield is 
rock maple, beech,birch, spruce and 
hemlock. The land is generally 
mountainous, and the soil hard and 
rocky. This town, according to 
Dr. Belknap, was originally known 
by tlie name of Dantzick, and con- 
tained in 1775 only 130 inhabitants, 
Sutton being joined in the enumer- 
ation. It did not at first belong to 
Hillsborough count)^, but was an- 
nexed to it at the time of its incor 



a S. direction, are the principal 
streams. South pond, 230 rods 
long and of various width ; Sip's 
pond, 200 rods long and 100 wide ; 
Rockwood's pond and Collin's 



iesi'pond, are the only natural collec- 
tions of water. The surface of 
r.bis town is hilly. The soil is 
rocky. The natural growtr, on the 
upland is maple, heech, birch, oak, 
pine and hemlock ; on the low 
lands, pine, hemlock, and spruce. 
There is a considerable quantity 
of very productive and highly val- 
uable meadow land. The soil is 
suitable for grazing and tillage. 
Beef, pork, butter and cheese are 
the staples. The farmers have of 
late turned, their attention to the 
raising of sheep, and the making 
of woollen cloths, and this branch 
of industry is becoming an object 
of profitable attention. Near the 
centre of the town is a larp;e bill, 
remarkable for the beautifully "ro- 
mantic prospect it affords. Gap 
mountain, which, at a distance, 
appears to be part of the Monad- 
nock, and on which are found va- 



136 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



rious kinds of stones suitable forf 
whetstones, lies partly in Troy andj 
partly in the N. E. part of Fitz 
William. Five turnpike roads 
meet at the village, viz. one from 
Keene and Winchester each, one 
to Templeton, leading to Worces- 
ter, and one to Rindge and Win- 
«henden each, both leading to Bos- 
ton. These roads have all been 
built within a few years, and for 
the projection and completion of 
most of them, the public is indebt- 
ed to the public spirit and cnter- 
prize of the late James Robeson, 
Essj. The village contains one 
meeting-house, 2 stores, an exten- 
sive tannery, several other me- 
chanic shops, and 20 dwelling-hou- 
ses. Fitzwilliam was originally 
called Monadnock JVo. 4, and was 
granted Jan. 15, 1752, to Roland 
Cotton and 41 others, but the gran- 
tees incurred the forfeiture of the 
grant, and it was re-granted to Sam 
son Stoddard and 22 others. The 
first settlement was made early in 
1760, by James Reed, John Fas- 
sett, Benjamin Bigelow and others. 
It was incorporated May 19, 1773, 
when it vi'as named from the Earl 
of Fitzwilliam. A congregational 
ehurch wns formed March 27, 1771, 
on which day. Rev. Benjamin Brig- 
bam, who graduated at Harvard 
colleee in 1764, was ordained. He 
died June 11, 1799, aged 57. Rev. 
Stephen Williams succeeded Mr. 
Brigham, Nov. 4, 1800 ; dismissed 
Nov. 1802 ; died at Woodstock, 
Conn. 1822, aged 60. Rev. John 
Sabin, who graduated at Brown 
University in 1797, was ordained 
March 6, 1805. The number in 
his ciiurch is 150. In 1816, an el- 
egant meeting-house was erected at 
the expense of $7000; dedicated 
Nov. 6. On the night of the 17th 
Jan. 1817, it was struck by light- 



ning, and entirely consumed. In (jed as valuable. The highest lanf? 



the same year, another, 65 by 57 
feet, was erected on the same spot 
and dedicated Nov. 1817. The 
number of deaths from 1802 to 
Nov. 21, 1822, inclusive, was 334. 
Brig. Gen. JAMES REED,a revolu- 
tionary patriot, whose merits as art 
officer and a man will be long re- 
membered, was a citizen of this 
town. Pop. 1167. 

Fox Point, in Newington, the 
place where a party of Indians un- 
der Hoophood, a sagamore,iQ May, 
1690, destroyed several houses, 
killed 14 persons, and took 6 prison- 
ers. 

Francestown, a post-township 
in Hillsborough county, in latitude 
42° 59', is bounded N. fey Deering, 
E. by New Boston and Weare, S. 
by Lyndeborough and Greenfield, 
and W. by Greenfield and Society- 
Land, containing 18,760 acres. It 
is 12 miles from Amherst, 55 from 
Hanover, 27 from Concord, and 69 
from Boston. The two S. branches 
01 Piscataquog river rise in this 
town ; the largest branch from 
Pleasant pond ; the other from 
Haunted pond. The former branch 
passes near the village in Frances- 
town. Pleasant and Haunted 
ponds are considerable collections 
of water, the former being about 
350 rods square ; the latter 300 
rods in length and 225 in width. 
The land is uneven, and in many 
parts stony, buttke qualities of the 
soil are warm and moist. There 
are some small intervals which are 
very productive. The original 
growth here was beech, birch, red 
oak, maple, hemlock and pine. 
The streams of water are not large, 
and almost every mill is situated 
on rivers that take their rise 
from hills and ponds within the 
limits of the town. But three of 
the mill privileges may be consider- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



137 



is Grotched mountain, the summit 
of wliica is more than 600 w-t a- 
bove the level of thp coinuni in 
the centre of the town. One of 
the summits of this mountain is 
covered with wood ; the other is 
almost a solid ledge of rocks, af 
fording a very extensive prospect 
to the S.W. There is, in the east- 
erly part of this town, on the farm 
of Mr. Daniel Fulier, a very ex' 
tensive and valuable quarry of 
free-stone (steatite.) It was ac- 
cidentally discovered by Mr. Ful- 
ler while ploughing in the field, and 
was first worked in 1804. It is of 
a dark greyish color, and when 
polished, strongly resembles the 
variegated marble of Vermont. It 
is soft, adhesive, and easily manu 
factuied. Its specific gravity, from 
recent experiments, is found to 
exceed considerably that of com- 
mon granite. When separated 
from the quarry, it is worth $2,60 
per cubic foot. It is transported 
to Boston in large quantities, 
where, as well as at the quarry, it 
is manufactured into stove3,hearths, 
&c. In the N. part of this town, 
black-lead, (plumbago, or graph- 
ite) has been recently found of a 
good qualitj^ — and in the S. part, 
near Lewis' mills, some beautiliil 
specimens of rock crystal. The 
common garnet is met with in va- 
rious places. On the N. side of 
Haunted pond, there is a bar of 20 
rods in lengthy 6 feet high, and 3 
or 4 feet through, but for what pur- 
pose or by what means tbis barrier 
was raised, is a matter of conjec- 
ture only. The 2d N. H. turnpike 
passes through near the centre of 
Francestown. The local situation 
of this town is very eligible for bu- 
siness, being near the centre of the 
county, and on the great thorough- 
fare from Windsor to Boston, and 
Oft a leading road from the S. W. 
N 



of the state to Concord. There is 
a handsome village, consisting of 
an elegant meeting house, with a 
cupola and bell, an academy, two 
stories high, built of brick, and 25 
dwelling houses. The number of 
deaths from the first settlement to 
1790 was about 100. From that 
time to Jan. 1, 1819, the number 
was 463. A large proportion of 
these was infants. The dysentery 
prevailed in 1799, and 33 persons 
died of that disorder, which, with 
12 other deaths, made the total 
that year 45, — the greatest number 
wliich ever occurred in one year. 
A congregational church was gath- 
ered by Rev. Samuel Cotton, of 
Litchfield, Jan. 27, 1773. It con- 
sisted at first of 18 members, and 
in 1790, of 143, and in 1821, of 
328. Rev. Moses Bradford, from 
Rowley, Ms. who graduated at 
Dartmouth College in 1785, was 
ordained Sept. 8, 1790. No other 
religious society has ever existed 
here, excepting a small one of 
Scotch presbyterians, which, in 
1792, united with the congrega- 

tionalists. Francestown derived 

its name from Frances, Uie wife of 
the last Gov. Wentworth. It was 
not granted to proprietors as most 
of the early townships were. It ift- 
cludes what was once called New- 
Boston-Addition and part of Socie- 
ty land, and was incorporated on 
petidon of the inhabitants of those 
places, as a distinct township, June 
8. 1772. The titles were derived 
from the Masonian proprietors, the 
land being within the curve line. 
A part of Lyndeborough was after- 
wards added to this town. The 
first settlement was made about 
1760,by John Carson, a Scotchman. 
This town passed several spirited 
resolves, Oct. 21, 1774, which 
were published Nov. 13th in the 
N. H. Gazette, signed by most of 



138 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



the inhabitants then belonging to 
the place. Richard Batten, who 
died Aug. 25, 1822, at the age of 
85 years, resided in this town more 
than 40 years. He was captured 
by the Indians during the last 
French war, in the year 1757. Al 
though guarded by two warriors, 
he was able, by superior strength 
and agility, to effect his escape, but 
not without the loss of all his 
clothes. He wandered entirely 
naked between the lakes George 
and Champlain for six days, eating 
nothing but berries and bark. To 
elude his pursuers, he was obliged 
to swim across Hudson river three 
times. Mr. James Woodbury, 
who died March 3. 1823, at the age 
of 85, closed his life in this town. 
He was an active soldier in the old 
Prench war, and engaged by the 
side of Gen. Wolfe when he was 
killed at the memorable siege of 
Quebec. He was one of the truly 
invincible rangers under the im- 
mortal Stark, and discharged every 
duty in a prompt and courageous 
manner. Pop. 1479. 

FrancojviA, a post-township in 
the N. part of Grafton county, in 
lat. 440 10', containing 32,948 a- 
cres, is bounded N. by Bethlehem, 
E. by ungranted land, S. by Lin- 
coln and Landaff, and W. by Con- 
cord. It is 28 miles from Haver- 
hill, 74 N. from Concord, the seat 
of government, and 140 miles from 
Boston, A large proportion of 
this town is mountainous. Its 
streams are branches of the Lower 
Amonoosuck river, and rise in the 
mountainous tracts on the E. 
There are two ponds in the notch 
of the mountain and but little low- 
er than the ground on which the 
public road now passes, both situa- 
ted in the S. part of the town. The 
lower gne, commonly called Fer- 
rin's pOHd, is 1-2 a mile long and 



1-4 of a mile wide. It is the source 
of one of the principal branches of 
Pemigewasset river, called the Mid- 
dle Branch. The North pond, a- 
bout a mile long and from 1-2 to 
3-4ths of a mile wide, is the source 
of one of the branches of the Am- 
onoosuck. Numerous elevations 
of land present themselves in this 
town. Those adjacent the Notch, 
are the most prominent. Here na- 
ture seems to have left only room 
for the road, which will probably 
become the great outlet of the 
Coos country. What has received 
the na'm« of the Profile in Franco- 
nia is regarded as a singular curios- 
ity. The peak on which it is situ- 
ated is estimated by some to be 
1000 feet in height,rising at an an- 
gle of about 80°, presenting a bold 
and majestic front of solid rock, a 
side view of which exhibits the 
profile of the human face, of which 
every feature is conspicaous. At 
the foot of the mountain isFerrin's 
pond. There are two Iron estab- 
lishments in this town. The low- 
er works are situated on the S. 
branch of Amonoosuck rivar and 
are owned by the New-Hampshire 
Iron-Factory Company, incorpora- 
ted Dec. 18, 1805, which is com- 
posed principally of gentlemen in 
Salem and Boston. Their estab- 
lishment is very extensive, con- 
sisting of a blast furnace erected 
in 1808, an air furnace, a forge and 
trip-hammer shop. There are also 
near or connected with the estab- 
lishment, grain and saw mills, a 
large store, several shops, and oth- 
er buildings, with 12 dwelling hous- 
es, which make a small village. 
The ore is obtained from a moun- 
tain in the east part of Concord, 
three miles from the furnace, and is 
considered the richest in the Uni- 
ted States, yielding from 56 to 63 
peif cent ; and the mine is said t» 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



139 



be inexhaustible. About 12 or 15 
tons of iron are made in a week, 
and 60 men on an average are em- 
ployed annually. There is a high- 
ly impregnated mineral spring, 
about two miles from the furRace. 
About one mile from the Lower 
works, are the Upper works, owned 
by the Haverhill and Franconia 
company, but their operation is not 
very extensive- Franconia, origi- 
nally called Morristovm, was 
granted Feb. 14, 1764, to Isaac 
Searle and others. The first per- 
manent settlement was made in 
1774, by Capt. Artemas Knight, 
Lemuel Barnett, Zebedee Apple- 
bee, and others. Pop. 373. 

G. 

Geese islands, in Connecticut 
Hver, in the town of Haverhill, five 
in number, the largest of which con- 
tains about 49 acres. The others 
contain in all about 15 acres. They 
were granted to Benjamin Whi 
ting of Charlestown, Jan. 3, 1769. 

Gilford, township, Strafford 
county, in lat. 43° 32', is situated 
«n the S. of Winnepisiogee lake, 
which forms its N. boundary. On 
the E. lies Alton, S. Gilmanton,and 
W. Long bay and Winnepisiogee 
river, which separate the town 
from Meredith. It contains an 
area of about 23,000 acres, and has 
1816 inhabitants. The soil is gen- 
erally productive. There are two 
ponds in this town, Little and Chaj- 
tleborough. Gunstock and Mile's 
rivers, rising in Suncookmountains 
and flowing N. into the lake, are 
the principal streams. The N. 
source of the Suncook river is on 
the S. of these mountains, which 
extend in a lofty pile over the E. 
part of the town, from Gilmanton 
line nearly to the lake. There are 
two islands in the lake belonging 



to Gilford, one of which has been 
connected to the main land by a 
bridge 30 rods in length. This town, 
which was formerly a part of Gil- 
manton, was incorporated June 16, 
1812. It was settled in 1778, by 
James AHie« and S. S. Gilman. El- 
der Richard Mariin was settled 
here in 1798, over the first free-will 
baptist society. Elder Uriah Mor- 
risfon was ordained over a baptist 
society in 1808, and died in 1817, 
aged 36 years. Elder William 
Blaisdtll was ordained in 1809, and 
is tlie past«r of the christian bap- 
tist church. There are also socie- 
ties of congregationalists and ur»- 
versalists. Here are two meeting- 
houses, open to all denominations ; 
a aew and promising academy, in- 
corporated in 1820 ; 11 schools 
during almost 5 months in the 
year ; a valuable paper manufac- 
tory, established by Aaron Martin, 
besides other useful miils and ma- 
chinery. Four bridges across the 
Winnepisiogee connect the town 
with Meredith. The village at this 
place is thriving and pleasant, con- 
sisting of 30 dwelling houses, the 
court-houee, paper-mill, &c. A 
term of the superior court is nov/ 
held at this place annually. Pop. 
1816. 

GiLLis & Foss' Grant, a tract 
of territory containing 33,272 
acres, in Grafton county, in lat. 43° 
54', is bounded N. by ungranted 
land, E. by Burton, S. by Sand- 
wich, and W. by Thornton. It was 
granted June 29, 1819, to JosiaJi 
Gillis, Moses Foss, jun. and others. 
It is watered by Mad river, which 
rises among the mountainous tracts 
on the N. ; runs S. W. about 2Q 
miles, and falls into Pemigewasset 
river in Campton. Swift river has 
its source in this grant, pursues au 
E. course through Burton into Con- 
waj', where it unites with Saco viv- 



140 



NEW-HAMPSfJIRE GAZETTEER. 



er. There are two ponds, and sev' 
eral considerable elevations, Mo' 
ses Foss, jun. commenced the set- 
tlement a few years since. It has 
but about 20 inhabitants. 

GiLMANTON, po9t-town, Straf- 
ford county, is situated in lat. 43° 
25', 17 miles from Concord, 44 
from Portsmouth, 78 from Boston, 
and 622 from Washington City. It 
is bounded N. hy Gilford, E. by 
Alton, S. E. by Barnstead, S.W. by 
Loudon, Canterbury and North- 
field, N. W. by "W'innepisiogeebay 
and river, which separate it from 
Sandbornton, and contains 63,500 
acres. Beside the Winnepisiogee. 
this town is watered by the Sun- 
cook and Soucook riyers, which 
have their sources in this town. 
The Suncook rises in a pond near 
the top of one of the Suncook 
mountains, plevated 900 feet above 
its base. - The water of this pond 
falls into another at the foot of 
the mountain, of 1 mile in length 
and 1-2 mile wide. Passing from 
this, it falls into another, covering 
about 500 acres, from which, it me- 
anders through the town, receiving 
several streams in its course. The 
Soucook rises from Loon, Rocky 
and Shellcamp ponds, in the S. 
part of the town. This town is 
very hilly and rocky. The N. part 
bounds upon Suncook mountains, 
from which a chain of hills extends 
S., dividing the head springs of the 
Suncook and Soucook. The soil 
is hard, but fruitful, when properly 
cultivated. The geology of this 
town presents many varieties. 
Quartz, crystallized,yellow and red 
ferniginous, irised and granular, is 
frequently found. Hornstone, 
schorl, in their varieties, occur in 
several places. Mica slate, gneiss 
and sienite abound. Sulphur oc- 
curs on the W. bank of tlie middle 
branch of the Soucook ; red and 



yellow ochre are found in various 
parts. Iron ore exists here, and 
works were erected in 1768, at the 
Iron Works' Village^ but after a 
few years, were abandoned. There 
are several springs in this town, 
termed mineral — one of which has 
proved efficacious in cutaneous and, 
bilious afliections. This town wf^s 
granted May 20, 1727, to 24 per- 
sons of the name of Gilman, and 
152 others. Its settlement was pro- 
tracted in consequence of the fre- 
quent depredations committed by- 
the Indians during the contimied 
wars of this period. After the re- 
duction of Canada, the fear of the 
Indians in a great measure subsi- 
ded ; and in Dec. 1761, Benjamin 
and John Mudgett with their fami- 
lies settled l»ere. Orlando Weed 
joined in 1762, and they were soon 
followed by several other families. 
Dorothy Weed, the first child, was 
born here Oct. 13, 1762. The 
baptist church was organized Nov. 
16, 1773; Elder Walter Powers 
was ordained June 14, 1786, and 
dismissed in 1806. In 1811, the 
church was divided, one portion of 
which now constitutes the Gilford 
church. June 10, 1818, a new bap- 
tist church was formed, and is under 
the pastoral care of Rev. Phincas 
Richardson. The congregational 
church was formed Nov. 30, 1774, 
and Rev. I^aac Smith ordained. He 
died March 25, 1817, at the age of 
72, and in the 43d year of his min- 
istry.' 'Rev. Ltike Ji. Spqffbrdwus 
ordained June 9, 1819. There are 
respectable societies of friends and 
methodists in Gilmanton, and 4 
free-will baptist churches — three 
of which have stated ministrations. 
The one formed in 1810, is under 
the care of Elder Peter Clark ; the 
others, two of which were organ- 
ized in 1816, are under the care of 
Elders Abel Glidden and John 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



141 



Knowles. The academy in this 
town, founded in 1794, and endow- 
ed with $5,500 and one fourth of a 
township of land, is a flourishing 
i'nstitution. " The social library 
of Gilmanton " was incorporated 
in June 1801, and contains 150 vol- 
umes ; the " Gilmanton Academy 
social library," incorporated June 
1815, contains 160 volumes. The 
average number of deaths for 10 
years past, is 40. Gen. Joseph 
Badger, one of the first settlers, 
was the first magistrate in town ; 
for many years representative, and 
for some time previous to his death 
judge of probate for the county of 
Strafford. He was an estimable 
and useful citizen. Pop. in 1810, 
4,338. Gilford was disannexed in 
1812; and the populafion io 1820 
was 3527. 

GiLSUM, a small township in 
Cheshire county, situated about 10 
miles from Connecticut river, in 
lat. 43° 1', is bounded N. by Al 
stead and Marlow, E. by Stoddard 
and Sullivan, S. by Keene, and W. 
by Surry. It contains 9,456 acre-s. 
The land is generally uneven and 
stony ; but there is some good ara 
ble land free from stone. The soil 
is, in many parts, fertile, and pro 
duces good crops of grass, grain, 
&c. The agricultural products in 
1820, were 8,500 lbs. of butter, 11,- 
000 lbs. of cheese, 19,000 lbs. of 
beef, 30,600 lbs. of pork, 2000 lbs, 
of flax, and 300 barrels of cider, 
Ashuelot river runs through this 
town and afibrds a good supply of 
water for mills. Gilsum was first 
granted Dec. 8, 1752, to Joseph 
Osgood, Jacob Farmer and others, 
and was called Boyle. It was re- 
granted by the name of Gilsum, 
July 13, 1763, to Messrs. Gilbert 
and Sumner and others. From the 
combination of the first syllables 
of the names of these men, it 
N2 



rives the name of Gil-sum. The 
first settlement was made in 1764 
by Josiah Kilburn, from Hebron in 
Conn. The other early settlers 
were Pelatiah Pease, Obadiah Wil- 
cox, Ebenezer Dewey, Jonathan 
Adams, &c. most of whom were 
from Conn. The congregational 
church was gathered in 1772. Rev. 
Elisha Fish was installed May 29, 
1794; died March 28, 1807. Di- 
visions in religious sentiment suc- 
ceeded the death of Mr. Fish. In 
1816, the congregational church 
and society were incorporated, the 
members of which have assumed 
no sectarian name, but call them- 
selves christians. There are some 
methodists and some universalists, 
which, with the other denomina- 
tions, live in peace and harmony. 
Pop. 601. 

Gltivville, or Littleton vil- 
lage, is pleasantly situated on both 
sides of Ainonoosuck river, in the 
S. part of the town of Littleton. 
It is 40 miles from Plymouth, 15 
from Bath, 17 from Lancaster, and 
5 from the Franconia Iron works. 
Here is a good situation for mills, 
&c., the bed of the river being for 
a considerable distance of solid 
rock, with a sufficient fall and a 
plenty of water. In this village, 
there are a store, tavern, post of- 
fice, and »uch professional men and 
mechanics as are necessary. There 
is a social library, called Glynville 
library, incorporated in 1813. 

GoFFSTOWN, a post-township, 
in Hillsborough county, in lat. 43® 
2', is bounded N. by Dnnbarton, 
E. by Manchester and Hooksett, 
S. by Bedford, W. by New-Bostoi'. 
containing 29,170 acres. It is 12 
miles from Arnherst, 16 from Con- 
cord, and 55 from Boston. Merri- 
mack forms part of the E. bounda- 
ry, Piscataquog river, the tribu- 
tary branches of which unite near 



142 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



the W. line of the town, runs 
through its centre in an EL direc- 
tion, and falls into Merrimack riv- 
er at Piscataquog village- in Bed- 
ford. Large quantities of lumber 
are annually floated dovi^n this riv- 
er to the Merrimack, and most of 
the mill privileges are derived from 
this valuable stream. There are 
two considerable elevations in the 
S. W. part of the town, which ob- 
tained from the Indians the name 
of Un-can-nu-nuc. Douglass, vol. 
page 453, spells it Oncnnouit, but 
the orthography commonly adop 
ted, and which conveys the present 
pronunciation, is Unconoonock 
Excepting these elvations, Goffs- 
town is less broken by hills than 
most of the circumjacent towns. 
On the rivers abovementioned are 
considerable tracts of valuable in- 
terval. Back from the rivers, com- 
mence extensive plains, less rich 
in soil than the intervals, but easy 
of cultivation, and producing abun- 
dant crops of Indian com and rye. 
From these plains, the land rises 
on each side of Piscataquog river 
into large swells, in some part 
rocky, but affording excellent graz- 
ing land and good tillage. The 
principal forest trees are oak, pine 
of several sorts, hemlock, beech 
and maple. A great number of 
masts for the Eng. navy has been 
furnished from this place. They 
are still an article of export, but 
their stock is nearly exhausted. 
In this town, there is an extensive 
cotton factor3% There is a psblic 
school which has been in opera- 
tion two years. Three persons 
have received a collegiate educa- 
tion, viz. Kilburn Johnson, Charles 
F. Gove, L. B. and James Shirley. 
The two last were graduated at 
Dartmouth college in 1817 and 
1818. The late Mr. James Aiken, 
•f this town, bequeathed $4000, 



which, on a certain contingency, is 
to form a permanent fund for sup- 
porting an academy here. In 1816, 
SI society, called the Religious 
Union Society, was incorporated 
lor the support of rehgious instruc- 
tion. To this society, Hon. Thom- 
as W. Thompson, deceased, devi- 
sed about 170 acres of land, to- 
wards a fund for supporting the 
gospel ministry in this town. A 
congregational church was formed 
in 1771. Rev. Joseph Currier, 
who graduated at Harvard college 
in 1765, was the first pastor. He 
was dismissed in 1774. Rev. Cor- 
nelius Waters, a graduate of Dart- 
mouth in 1774, was ordained in 
1781 ; dismissed in 1795. In 1802, 
a presbyterian congregational 
church was organized, and Rev. 
David L. Morril, a native of Ep- 
ping, was ordained March 3. He 
was dismissed July 10, 1811, and 
has since been distinguished as a 
legislator, both in our state govern- 
ment and the government of the 
U. S. Rev, Benjamin H. Pitman^ 
from Newport, R. I. was ordained 
in Oct. 1820. A baptist church 
was formed in 1820, of which Rev. 
John B. Gibson was coiastituted 
pastor. There are two meeting- 
bouses, one built in 1765 ; the oth- 
er in 1815. The last is a iiandsome 
edifice, and is furnished with a 
bell. Goffstown was in former 
times a favorite resort of the In- 
dians, who found ample, means of 
support in the abundance of fish 
in its limits. It was granted by 
the Masonian proprietors in 1748, 
to Rev. Thomas Parker, of Dra- 
cut, and others. The year of its, 
first settlement we have not ascer- 
tained. It was incorporated June 
16, 1761, by the name of Goffs- 
town, in honor, it is said, of Col. 
John Gofi'e, for many years a res- 
ident of Bedford, and the first 



NEW HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



143 



judge of probate in Hillsborougb 
county. Dr. Jonathan Gove, 
a man distinguished for his urban- 
ity, his talents and professional 
skill, resided in this town. Hi 
was graduated at Harvaid college 
in 1768, and at the time of his[ 
death, was one of the oldest prac- 
titioners of medicine in thf coun- 
ty. He was many years an active 
member of the legislature. Pop. 
2173. 

GositEN, a post-township, in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 43° 17', is 
bounded N. by Newport and Wen- 
dell, E. by Fishersfield, S. by 
Washington, and W. by Lempster 
and Unity, containing 12,023 aeves. 
It is 42 miles from Concord. Croy- 
den turnpike passes through Go- 
shen. From Sunapee mountain, 
lying in the E. part of this town, 
spring many small streams, which 
unite in forming Sugar river. Rand's 
pond is in the N. E. part of th.e 
town. The soil is particularly cal- 
culated for the production of grass. 
The natural growth consists of ma- 
ple, birch, beech, heir.iock and 
spruee, and some oak. From the 
maple, sugar is manufactuied in 
considerable quantities. The ag- 
ricultural products in 1800, w^ere 
11,000 lbs. of butter, 15,000 lbs. of 
cheese, 22,000 lbs. of beef, 48,000 
lbs. of pork, 8,100 lbs. of flax, and 
200 barrels of cider. This town 
has a library of about 90 volumes. 
Goshen was formed of territory be- 
longing to Newport, Wendell, Fish- 
ersfield, Washington, Lempster and 
Unity. It was incorporated Dec. 
27, 1791. The first settlement was 
made in that part taken from Wen- 
dell, about the year 1769, by Capt. 
Benjamin Rand, William Lang,and 
Daniel Grindle, whose sufi'erings 
and hardships were very great. — 
The crops of the first settlers were 
greatly injured, and sometimes en- 



tirely destroye<l by early frosts. Ia 
such cases,thcy procured grain from 
Walpole and other p'nces. At a 
.ertain time of scarcity.Capt. Rand 
went to thftplacf- alter grain, ^d 
being detained by a violent snow; 
stoim, l)is lamily was obliged to 
live without provision, for six days, 
during which time IV3 vs. Rand sus- 
tained one of iiis children 5 years 
old, by the milk from her breast, ha-r 
ving a short time before buried her 
infant child. — In the spring of 1813 
I he spotted fever swept oiF many of 
'he inhabitants. A congregational 
church was formed in February 
1802, consisting of 7 members, and 
a baptist society was formed Oc- 
tober 12, 1803, consisting of 1^ 
members, which has increased to 
53. Pop. 687. 

GospoRT, one of the isles of 
Shoals, formerly called Appledore 
and afterwards Star-island, con- 
tains about 150 acres. Gosport 
was early invested with town priv- 
ileges ; in 1728 paid £l6 as its 
proportion of the province tax of 
£1000^; had a meeting-house, and 
subsequently a fort on its W. point. 
Its business has now greatly lessen- 
ed. Rev. John Tucke was settled 
en this island in 1732; died Aug. 
12, 1773. A further notice of this 
island, is contained in that of the 
Isles of Shoals. 

Grafton, a township in Graftoa 
countv, in lat. 43° 34', is bounded 
N. E.'by Orange,S. E. by Cushing's 
Gore, seiaiating it from Danbury, 
S. W. by Springfield, andN. W. by 
Enfield, containing 21,993 acres, of 
which 500 are water. It is 36 miles 
from Concord, and 13 S. E. from 
Dartmouth College. It is watered 
by branches of Smith's and Masco- 
my rivers. Heard's river, a small 
tributary to Smith's river, waters 
the S. E. part. There are 5 ponds. 
The largest, containing from 200 tQ 



U4 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



300 acres, is called Grafton pond. 
Two are named Mud ponds. The 
surface of Grafton is very hilly, in 
some parts very mountainous ; and 
the soil is so rocky as, in many pla- 
ces, to be unfit for cultivation. — 
There are, however, some good 
tracts of land. The Grafton turn- 
pike, leading from Andover to Or- 
ford Bridge, passes through the E. 
part ; and the 4th N. H. turnpike, 
from Concord to Hanover, through 
the W. part. On the former is a 
small village, containing 14 dwel- 
ling houses, a store, school house, 
tavern, attorney's office and sever- 
al mechanic establishments. Graf- 
ton contains 175 dwelling houses 
and about 185 families. Since 1807, 
136 families have emigrated to the 
states of New- York, Ohio, and oth- 
er places. From Sept. 1815, to 
1822, there died 72 persons. At 
the last period there were living 51 
persons above 60, 19 above 70, and 
4 above 80. In this town,^);here is 
a remarkable ledge, called the Pin- 
nacle, on the S. side of which, the 
ground rises by a gradual ascent to 
the summit ; but on the N. side, 
jt falls nearly 150 feet, within the 
distance of 6 or 8 feet. Clay is 
found in several places. Isinglass, 
as it is commonly called, is found 
in a state of great purity in Glass 
Hillmeuntain. It adheres in the 
form of lamina to rocks of white 
and yellow quartz. The usual size 
of these lamina is about 6 inches 
square, but some have been found 
much larger. It requires much la- 
bor to obtain this glass, which, 
when prepared, is transported to 
Boston, and from thence exported 
to England. It is found on the E. 
side of the mountain, which is 200 
feet high. Grafton was granted 
Aug. 14, 1761, to Ephraim Sherman 
and others. The first permanent 
seitl«Bi«nt was made in May 1772, 



by Capt. Joseph Hoyt, from Poplin, 
Capt. Alexander Pixley and wife 
were the second family who settled 
here. Capt. Jacob Barney, now 
48, was the first native of the town. 
The baptist church in the N. part 
of the town, was formed in 1785. — 
Rev. Oliver Williams was ordained 
Sept. 27, 1786 ; died Aug. 15, 1790, 
aged 39. Rev. Joseph Wheat was 
installed ia Aug. 1801 ; dismissed 
in 1815. Rev. Ephraim Crocket, 
ordained in May, 1816 ; removed 
Jan. 20, 1817 Rev. Stephen K. 
Wescott, ordained Oct. 6, 1819. 
The south church had David Fisher 
and Uriah Smith for preaehers. " A 
freewill baptist church was formed 
about the year 1817 — it has about 
40 menibers. Pop. 1094. 

Grantham, a township in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 43° 13', is 
bounded N.by Enfield,E. by Spring- 
field, S. by Croydon, W. by Plain- 
field, which separates it from Con- 
necticut river. It contains an 
area of 24,900 acres. It is 12 miles 
S. E. from Dartmouth college, and 
45 N. W. from Concord. There 
are 7 or 8 ponds, the largest of 
which lies in the S. E. part of the 
town and is called Eastman's pond, 
and contains nearly 300 acres. 
Another, lying near the centre of 
the town, contains nearly 200 acres. 
Croydon mountain extends through 
the westerly part of Grantham in 
a direction from S. W. to N. E. 
The soil is productive when well 
cultivated, especially on the W. of 
ihe mountain. It seems to be more 
favorable for wheat than any other 
species of grain. The mountain 
affords good pasturage, and the 
lowejf land yields grass in abun- 
dance'^ The agricultural products 
in 1820 were, 21,000 lbs. of batter, 
30,500 lbs. of cheese, 61,000 lbs. 
: of beef, 72,000 lbs. of pork, 8,600 
libs, of flax, and 450 barrels of ei- 



NEW-HAMPSHIIIE GAZETTEER. 



145 



der. The (ow» is well watered 
by numerous brooks and rivulets 
which principally issue from Croy- 
don mountain. On the E. side of 
the mountain is a spring supposed 
to possess medicinal qualities, 
■visited by hundreds of valetudi- 
narians in the summer season. In 
the N. "W. corner of the town is a 
bed of paint, which after being 
clarified, makes a paint similar to 
spruce yellow, or, by being burnt, 
is similar to Spanish biown. On 
the summit of Croydon mountain, 
is a natural pond, containing about 
5.0 acres. This town was first 
granted July 11, 1761, but the pro- 
prietors not fulfilling the conditions 
of the charter, it was forfeited. In 
1767, it was re-granted to Col. 
William Symraes and 63 others, 
by the name of Granthnm. It was 
ajfterwards called New-Grantham, 
and has, within a few years, been 
trhanged, by aet of the legislature, 
to its former name. The inhabi- 
tants on the W. side of the moun- 
tain are connected for religious 
purposes with Meriden parish, in 
Plainfield, over which Rev. Dana 
Clayes W3.S ordained July 4, 1821. 
On the E. side of the town is a so- 
ciety of methodists. Pop. 1032. 

Grant's Island, in Connecti- 
cut river, opposite Lime, contains 
24 acres, and was granted to Ben- 
jamin Grant of Lime, April 5, 
1767. 

Great-Bat, a name appropri 
a.ted to two bodies of water in this 
,state. The largest is that lying 
E. of New-Market, formed by the 
united waters of Sqwamscot, Win 
iiicot and Lamprey rivers. It is 4 
miles wide ; and at some seasons 
is picturesque as connected with 
the surrounding scenery. This 
bay has Nevvington on the E., 
Greenland and Stratham on the S. 
New-Market and Durham W. ; its 



waters pass N. E., through Little 
Bay, wl;ere Oyster river unites 
with the current which passes into 
the Pascataqua. Gieat-Bay, be- 
tween Sanbornton and Meredith, 
is an ext€nsivelx)dy of water, con- 
nected with Winnepisiogee lake, 
and discharging its waters into 
Winnepisiogee river. Round and 
Long Bays are situated between 
the lake and Great-Bay, and there 
are two small bays oh the river be- 
low. 

Great-Island. SeeJ\^. Casih. 

Greenfield. ^ ost-township,in 
Hillsborough county, in lat. 42° 57', 
is bounded N. by Francestown and 
Society-Land, E. by Francestown 
and Lyndeborough, S. by Lyndebo- 
roughand Temple, W. by Peter- 
borough and Hancock, containing 
16,904 acres. It is 14 miles from 
Amherst, 38 from Concord, and 62 
from Boston. Contoocook river 
forms part of the W. boundary, 
and separates this town from Han- 
!cock. The soil has considerable 
I variety, but is generally fertile. It 
contains a great variety of forest 
trees — nearly all the kinds found 
[in the county. The hills afford 
excellent pasturage ; the ATilIeys 
and plains are favorable for grain. 
Hops are raised in great abun- 
dance. A part of Crotched moun- 
tain rises from the N. part, and 
part of Lyndeborough mountain 
from the S. and E. sections of this 
town. Theie are some valuable 
meadows. In one of them, own-^ 
ed by Maj. Whittemore, have beeu 
found many Indian relics, from 
which, it is conjectured that it was 
ja favorite spot of the sons of the 
j forest. There are five ponds ; the 
I largest about one mile in length, 
and one third of its length in width. 
There are several small fertilizing 
streams. Greenfield has a pleas- 
ant village of about 30 houses — it 



146 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



has a social library, containing 200 
volumes. The first settlement 
commenced in 1771; by Capt. Alex- 
ander Parker, Major A. Whitte- 
Hiore, Simeon Fletcher and others. 
It was incorporated June 15, 1791. 
The name of Greenfield was giv- 
en to it by Major Whittemore. A 
coneregational church was formed 
Augiist 13, 1791. Rev. Timothy 
Clarke, who graduated at Dart- 
mouth college in 1791, was settled 
Jan. 1, 1800; dismissed in 1811. 
Rev. John Walker, who graduated 
at Dartmouth college in 1808, was 
ordained Feb. 5, 1812 ; dismissed 
in 1822. Pop. 974. 

Greenland, post-town, Rock- 
ingham county, 43° 2', is situated 
5 miles W. S. W. from Ports- 
mouth, 45 from Concord, 51 from 
Boston. It is bounded N. by the 
Great-Bay and Newington, E. by 
Portsmouth and Rye, S. by North- 
Hampton, W. by Stratham, and 
contains 6,335 acres. The soil is 
remarkably good, and at present 
in a high state of cultivation. The 
orchards and gardens of this town 
are valuable, and yield annual prof- 
its to the farmers. Greenland, 
originally a part of Portsmouth, 
was incorporated as a distinct town 
in 1703. Settlements commenced 
early, and in 1705, there were 320 
inhabitants. Rev. William Allen, 
the first minister of Greenland, 
was ordained July 15, 1707; died 
Sept. 8, 1760, aged 84. Rev. Sam- 
uel M'Clintock, D. D. was ordain- 
ed colleague with Mr. Allen, Nov. 
3, 1756; died April 27, 1804, aged 
72. Rev. James Armstrong Neal, 
ordained May 22, 1805, died July 
18, 1808, aged 34. Rev. Ephraim 
Abbotwus ordained Oct. 27, 1813; 
and the church consists of about 
40 members. The methodist church 
in Greenland was formed in 1809 
and is under the pastoral care of 



Rev. Alfred Metcalf. George 
Brackett, Esq. of this tov/n has 
given a fund in trust of <p5000 — 
200 dollars of its annual income 
to be applied to the support of the 
congregational minister for the 
time being, and the remainder for 
missionary purposes. The num- 
ber of deaths for 30 years is 204 
— an average of less than 7 per 
year. From 1712 to 1753, the 
baptisms in Greenland were 1092, 
averaging more than 26 each year, 
while the deaths during that peri- 
od were less than 10 per annum. 
The births for the last 10 years 
have trebled the number of deaths. 
Of 204 deceased during 10 years 
past, 64 lived to the age of 70 and 
upwards. Rev. Samuel M'- 
Clintock, D. D. who died in the 
48th year of his ministry, was born 
at Medford, Mass. May 1, 1732 ; 
graduated at the New-Jersey col- 
lege in 1751 ; ordained in 1756; 
and died April 27, 1804, aged 72.— 
His father was a native of Ireland. 
Dr. M'Clintock was a sound di- 
vine, eminent as a preacher, and 
distinguished for his attachment to 
the cause of his country. He serv- 
ed as chaplain in the army of the 
revolution. Pop. 634. 

Groton, a township in Graf- 
ton county, in lat. 43°44', is boun- 
ded N, by Rumney, E. by Hebron, 
S. by Orange and W. by Dorches- 
ter, containing 16,531 acres. It is 
10 miles from Plymouth, 45 miles 
from Concord and 15 miles from 
Hanover. The N. partis watered 
by a branch of Baker's river, and 
the southerly part has several small 
streams which fall into Newfound 
lake. There is but one pond of 
any consequence lying wholly in 
this town, and that is situated a- 
bout a mile N. E. of the meeting 
house. Groton was granted July 
8, 1761, to George Abbot and oth- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



147 



ers by the name of Cockermouth. 
It was re-granted, about five years 
afterwards, to Col. John Hale and 
others. The first settlement was 
commenced in 1770, by James 
Gould, Capt. Ebenezer Melvhi, 
Jonas Hobart, Phinelias Bennet 
and Samuel Farley. They endur- 
ed many hardships during the suc- 
ceeding winter, having failed in 
raising their provisions. About 
the year 1779, a congiegational 
church was formed, and Rev. Sam- 
uel Perley, who graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1763, was settled. 
He was dismissed in J 785. Rev. 
Thomas Page was ordained in 
1790, over a large church collected 
from this and other towns, and re- 
mained the pastor until his death, 
May. 3, 1813. Rev.' IVilliam 
jRo(/e was settled in 1804. This 
town was incorporated by the name 
«f Groton, Dec. 7, 1796. Pop. 
686. 

H. 

Hall's stream, rises in the high- 
lands which separate this state 
from the British dominions, and 
forms the N. W. boundary between 
New-Hampshire and Lower Cana- 
da from its source to its junction 
with the Connecticut at Stewarts- 
town. 

Hale's location, Coos county, 
is situated W. of Conway, bound- 
ed S. by Burton, W. and N. by un- 
granted lands. It consists of 1215 
acres, granted Dec. 27, 1771, to 
Maj. Samuel Hale, of Portsmoutli, 
and contains 20 inhabitants, 

Hampstead, post-town, Rock- 
ingham county in lat. 42° 53', lies 
partly on the height of land be- 
tween Merrimack and Pascataqua 
rivers — bounded N. by Hawke and 
Sandown, E. by Kingston, S.E. by 
Plaistow, S. by Atkinson, W. by 
Londaaderry, and contain's 8,350 



acres, 400 of which are water. 
Most of the waters descend S. W. 
into the Merrimack through Spig- 
got river, which flows from Wash 
pond near the centre of the town. 
Angly pond is in the N. E. of the 
town, the waters of whi«h pass in- 
to the Powow river. Island pond 
in the S, W. part of the town, con- 
tains a valuable farm of 300 acres, 
the property of Hon. N. Gilman of 
Exeter. Hampstead is an ill-shaped 
town,having about 30aagles. The 
soil is a hard, strong land, favorable 
to the growth of oak, walnut and 
elm, with some chesnut, maple, &c. 
Th« tract composing this town was, 
previous to the establishment of the 
state boundaries in 1741, consider- 
ed as a part of Haverhill and Ames- 
bury, and was called Timber-Lane. 
A part was also called Haverhill 
District. About 1728, a Mr. Em- 
erson from Haverhill made a set- 
tlement in the S. part near a brook, 
and at that time, it is reported, on- 
ly one Mr. Ford and two Indians 
lived in the place. About the 
same time, a Mr. Heath and a few- 
others moved into the place. The 
town was granted by Gov. Benning 
Wentworth, Jan. 19, 1749, and na- 
med by him after a pleasant village 
five miles N. of London, Eng. 
He reserved the island before men- 
tioned for his own farm. In the 
early settlement of the town, a 
dispute arose between Kingston 
and Hampstead, respecting certain 
grants made by Amesbury before 
the state line was run, which was 
finally settled by Hampstead pay- 
ing £1000 old tenor, and the grant 
of Unity to Kingston made by 
the governor July 13, 1764. About 
1750, the meeting-house was erect- 
ed, and Rev. Henry True ordained 
June 3, 1752 : he died May 22, 
|1782, after having lived a pious 
and useful life. Rev. John Kelly, 



14ti 



NEVV.HAMPSHTRE GAZETTEER. 



was iiisalled Dec. 5, 1792. Dan- 
iel Little, Esq. was the tirst an^is- 
trate of Ht n,L»st'-i'l, and a useful 
man. Kicj irtl Haj:zen, Esq. w . . 
run t^.e state line, was a nnn of 
pi^ty nvA liberal eduealio.i. Cul. 
Jafcol* Bni'e.y, afterw;iris one ri 
the fik-ot settlers of Newbu.-y, Vt. 
was na e.Tjiaent citiien. Hm 
Joha Cdlle was a n aivc of tiiis 
place, for ^9 ye.iiS a justice of the 
peace, 25 years on the bench of 
the roart of common pl-^as, aiid 
for 25 years clerk of the Hous?. oi 
RepresenMtivtj?. He was a use- 
ful and a good nan. He died Oct. 
30, 1308, aged 68. Pop. 751. 

Hampton, post-town, Roekinsr- 
ham countv, lies on the sea-coast, 
in lat. 42° 57', bounded N. E. by 
North-Hampton, S. E. by the At- 
lantic, S. W. by Hampton-Falls, 
N. W. by HauiDton-Fatlsand part 
of Exeter. Distant 13 miles from 
Portsmouth, 7 from Exeter, and 50 
from Concord. It comprises a sur- 
face of 8,130 acres; ISOOof which 
are saU-Tiarsh, 650 sand banks be- 
tAveen the marsh and high water 
mark of the sea — leavhig only 
S,680 acwres of upland. The land 
is rather level, gently declining to 
the sea and marsh, but of good 
quality. It is well adapted to til- 
lage and mowing ; but there is not 
sufficient pasturing for the stock 
generally kept, and the young cat- 
tle, &c. are pastured in the neigh- 
boring towns. Hampton is pleas- 
antly situated ; many eminences 
in the town affording romantic 
views of the ocean. Isles of S.ioals, 
and sea-coast from Cape-Ann to 
Portsmouth. Its beaches iiave long 
been the resort of viivalids awd par- 
ties of pleasure — and arc little in- 
ferior to the faiMous Nahant beach 
near Boston. Bour's Head is an 
abrupt eminence extending into 
the sea, and dividing the beaches 



ibo .t half-way between the river's 
nouih and the N. E. corner of the 
own. On the N. beach, are 26 
jsh-liouses, from which the winter 
and summer fisheries have been 
carried on with much success. At 
ove fare the boats frequently land 
froai 20to30 tons of cod ; and al-v 
:h'ii?g,li the fishermen venture to 
aoa in whale boats and vyfherries 
• u the distance of 4 or 5 leagues, 
in very cold and boist'^rou'-. weath- 
er, it is said no person was ever 
lost. Great quantities of the win- 
•^er fas'i are carried frozen into the 
interior, and to Vermont and Can- 
ada. Previous to the revolution, 
Hud foi many years after until tim- 
ber in the vicinity became scarce, 
one or mofe bngs or ships, from 
150 to 350 tons burthen, were an- 
nually built in the ship-yard of the 
Hon. Christopher Toppan, under 
his supei'intendance, and several 
vessels were owned here engaged 
in the W. I. trade. Several ves- 
sels of from 60 to 100 tons have 
been lately built. Several vessels 
of this description are now em- 
ployed from Hampton river as 
coasters and in tlie mackerel fish- 
ing. Two convenient wharves are 
situated about 1 1-4 miles from the 
centre of the town. Hampton now 
affords a good market, and its trade 
is evidently increasing. The Indian 
name of this town was TVinnicu' 
met ; it was first settled in 1638, 
by emigrants from the county of 
Norfolk, Eng. The first house 
was erected in 1636, by Nicholas 
Easton, and was called the bound- 
iioase. The town was incorpora- 
ted in 1638, and then included 
within its limits what now consti- 
tutes the towns of North-Hampton, 
Hampton-Falls, Kensington and 
Seabrook. In 1 638, the first con- 
gregational church in New-Hamp- 
shire was established at Exetsr. 



NEVVHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



149 



The second church was gather.^d 
this j'ear in Hampton, over which 
have officiated the following cler- 
gymen: Rev. Stephen Bacheicf, 
ordained 1638; removed 164 i. 
Rev. Timothy Dalton, ordained 
1639; died 1661. Rev. John Wheel- 
wright, ordained 1647 ; afterwanls 
removed. Rev. Seaborn Cotton, 
born at sea in Aug. 1633, and grad- 
uated at Harvard college in 1653, 
was ordained 1660, and died 1686, 
aged 53, Rev. John Cotton, or- 
dained 1696, died in 1710, at the 
age of 57. Rev. Nathaniel Goo- 
kin, ordained 1710, died in 1734, 
aged 48. Rev. Ward Cotton, or- 
dained 1734, was removed in 1765. 
Rev. Ebenezer Thayer, ordained 
J 766, died in 1792, aged 58. Rev. 
Jesse Appleton, D. D. was ordain- 
ed in 1797 ; was elected president 
of Bowdoin college in 1807, and 
died Nov. 12, 1819. Rev. Josiah 
Webster was ordained in 1808 
Rev. Timothy Dalton, the second 
minister of the town, gave by deed 
to the church and town of Hamp- 
ton, for the support of the gospel 
ministry, several pieced of land 
lying in the township. Of this 
land the towns set off have had 
their proportion by an amicable 
adjustment of their claims. Sev- 
eral years since, through the influ- 
ence of the Hon. Christopher Top- 
pan, deceased, this town sold sev- 
eral pieces of unproductive land in- 
cluded in the above gift, and ves- 
ted the proceeds in public securi- 
ties then worth .359 to 5«. on the 
pound lawful. This fund has been 
kept by the town ; and its income 
with parsonage rents, exclusive of 
the parsonage occupied by the set- 
tled minister, amounts to ^450 per 
annum. The estate appropriated 
to this purpose is about $12,000. 
There is a baptist sDciety in Hamp- 
ton, incorporated in 1817, under 
O 



the care of Eld. John Harriman. 
This town was formerly the scene 
of Indian iepvedations. On the 
17th Aug. 1703, a party of Indians 
killed 6 persons in Hampton, 
among whom was a widow Mus- 
sey, celebrated as a preacher among 
the friends. Hampton Proprieta- 
ry School was incorporated in 1810 ; 
it has a large and convenient build- 
ing, and promises extensive use- 
fulness. In 1735and6 tlie throat 
distemper prevailed in this town, 
and 55 persons fell its victims. It 
was also fatal in other towns, and 
nearly 1000 were swept away vvitk 
the disease within fourteen months. 
This fatal sickness returned again 
in 1754, during which, and the suc- 
ceeding year, more than 50 persons 
died in Hampton. The town has, 
however, been remarkable for its 
general health, and the longevity 
of its inhabitants — a very unusual 
number having lived to from 80 to 
100 years. But one adult has-died 
here within the last twenty years 
of fever ; and more than three to 
a hundred now living are more 
than 75 years of age : several more 
than 90. The Hon. Christo- 
pher ToPPAN died here in Feb. 
1819, aged 84: he was a very use- 
ful and distinguished citizen. He 
was grandson of Rev. Christ. Top- 
pan of Newbury. His father, Dr. 
Edmund Toppan, married a daugh- 
ter of Col. Wingate, and settled iq 
Hampton as a physician. Mrs/* 
Sarah Toppan, his relict, died in 
1801, having lived respected and 
honored nearly a centurj'. Col. 
Wingate left a numerous family, 
and among his descenrlants are 
numbered some of our most distin- 
guished characters. Gen. Jona- 
than MoxJLTON was a* inhabi- 
tant of this town, and died in 1788 ; 
he was a large proprietor in lands : 
and several flourishing towns in the 



150 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEERv 



interior of the state owe their ear- 
ly settlement to his exertions and 
influence. Pop. 1098. 

Hampton-Falls, post-town- 
ship.Rockingham county, lat. 42° 57', 
is situated 45 miles from Concord, 
41 from Boston, and 16 from 
Portsmouth. It is bounded N. E. 
by Hampton, S. E. by the marshes, 
S. by Seabrook, W. by Kensing- 
ton, N. W. by Exeter, and con- 
tains 7,400 acres. The soil is gen- 
erally similar to that of the con- 
tiguous towns, moderately good, 
and pleasantly situated. Hamp- 
ton-Falls was originally a part of 
Hampton, from which it was sepa- 
rated and incorporated in 1712 ; 
and the same year, the first minis- 
ter, Rev. Theophilus Cotton, was 
settled; he died in 1726, aged 45. 
Rev. Joseph Whipple, ordained in 
1727, died in 1757, at the age of 57. 
Rev. Josiah Bayley succeeded him 
in that year ; died in 1762, aged 
29. Rev. Paine Wingate was set- 
tled in 1763, and removed in 1771. 
Rev. Samuel La«gdon,D.D. was set- 
tled in 1781, and died Nov. 29, 1797, 
aged 75. He was several years 
Pres. of Har.Coll. Rev. Jacob Abbot 
ordained Aug.15,1798. There is also 
a small society of baptists. Ti>e ma- 
lignant throat distemper prevailed 
here in 1735—36, and destroyed a 
great number of persons, principal- 
ly youth. Pop. 572. 

Hancock, a post-township in 
Hillsborough county, in lat. 42° 59' 
is bounded N. by Antrim, E. by 
Society-Land, and Contoocook riv- 
er which divides it from Green- 
field, S. by Peterborough and Dub- 
lin, and W. by Nelson, containing 
19,372 acres. It is 35 miles from 
Concord, 22 from Amherst and 19 
from Keene. The soil is various, 
but generally productive. The W. 
part of the town is mountainous, 
but affords excellent pasturing and 
many good farms. The other 



parts of the t own are agreeably di- 
versified with plains, hills and val- 
leys. On the Contoocook, and some 
of its tributary streams, there are 
several tracts of excellent interval. 
It may with propriety be said to be a 
good farming touai. There are two 
considerable ponds, one of which is 
in the centre, a few rods N. of the 
meeting-house, called Norway 
pond ; the other in the S. W. corner 
of the town, and, from its shape, is 
called Half-moon pond. Besides 
these, there is a small pond called 
Mud or Hosley's pond, lying be- 
tween Half-moon and Long, or 
Hunt's pond, the last of which is 
very large and situated in this town 
and Nelson. These ponds contain 
fish of various kinds. There is an 
elegant meeting-bouse erected ia 
1820, on the same spot where the 
former one was accidentally burnt 
down, Oct. 28, IS 19. The pews in 
this edifice, exclusive of several re- 
served for public use, were sold 
at auction in one day for 7000 
dollars. The meeting-house is 
pleasantly situated near the centime 
of the town, on a handsome plain, 
in a thriving village, in which are 
two taverns, three stores, and is 
well supplied with mechanics of 
different kinds ; two physicians 
and one attorney at law. In this 
town, there are one cotton factory, 
one potash manufactory, and one 
for the manufacture of elegant 
fowling pieces and rifles, many of 
which are annually made here, and 
from their excellence are in great 
demand. There are nine school- 
houses. That in the village, is built 
of brick two stories high, the upper 
I story of which was designed, and 
is well adapted for a public school 
or academy, to which use it is gen- 
erally applied. There is a social 
library containing upwards of 200 
volumes. Hancock is justly con- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



151 



sidered a healthy place. There has 
been no prevailing sickness since 
the summer of 1800, when the 
dysentery, in the short period of 
nine weeks, swept off 56 persons, 
most of whom were children and 
youth. The whole number of deaths 
that year was 64. The annual av- 
erage number for the last 20 years 
has been about 14. For several 
years past, nearly one half of the 
deaths has be#n caused by consump- 
tion. Hancock was incorporated 
Nov. 5, 1779. It was named after 
Gov. Hancock of Boston, who was 
one of the original proprietors. 
The first settlement was begun by 
John Grimes in May, 1764. In 
the succeeding autumn, he removed 
with his family to Peterborough ; 
remained there through the winter, 
and returned in the spring of 1765, 
which may be considered the first 
permanent settlement. Within 
four or five years from that time, 
John Aspey, George M'Cloud, Mo- 
ses Morrison and William Lakin, 
with their families, settled in this 
place. From this period, the set- 
tlements greatly increased by emi- 
grants from Groton, Hollis, London- 
derry, New-Ipswich, Peterborough 
and other places. The first settlers 
suffered many of the hardships and 
privations incident to new settlers, 
but less, perhaps than some others, 
inasmuch as most of the towns ad- 
joining had been previously par- 
tially settled. The congregational 
church here was organized Aug. 28, 
1788, and then consisted of ten 
males and seven females. It now 
contains about 100 members. Rev. 
Reed Paige, from Hardwick, 
Mass. was ordained Sept. 21, 1791 ; 
died July 22, 1816, aged 52 years. 
He was justly esteemed a learned, 
pious, able and faithful minister ; a 
good citizen, an honest and upright 
man ; a firm patriot, and zenlcus 



and able advocate of his country's 
rights, which very much endeared 
him to the people of his charge, 
who frequently elected him to rep- 
resent the town in the state legis- 
lature, of which he was a member 
at the time of his death. Rev. 
Archibald Burgess, was ordained 
as the successor of Mr. Paige,Dec. 
25, 1822. Pop. 1178. 

Hanover, a post-township in 
Grafton county, in lat. 43° 42', is 
bounded N. by Lime, E. by Canaan, 
S. by Lebanon and W. by Norwich, 
Vt. containing 27,745 acres. It is 
53 miles N. W. from Concord, 102 
from Portsmouth, 114 from Boston 
and 495 from Washington city. In 
this town, there is no river not 
any considerable stream besides 
the Connecticut. Mink brook, run- 
ning in a S. W. direction. Slate 
brook in a W. course, and Goose- 
Pond brook in the N. E. part of the 
town, are among the principal 
streams. Neither of these are Urge 
enough for permanent mill privileg- 
es. There are several small islands 
in Connecticut river within the 
limits of Hanover, the largest of 
which is Parker's island containing 
about 20 acres. There are no na- 
tural ponds. The original growth 
of wood is maple, beech, birch, ash, 
bass, hemlock, spruce and pine. 
When the town was settled, the 
greatest proportion of forest trees 
was what is denominated hardu'ood^ 
The surface of Hanoifer is agreea- 
bly diversified with hills and val- 
leys, and the greatest part is suita- 
ble for farms. There is but a small 
proportion ef waste land, less, per- 
haps, than in any other town in 
Grafton county," It is estimated 
that nearly one half is under im- 
provement. Moose mountain is a 
considerable elevation, extending 
across the town from N. to S. at 
the distance of about five miles 



352 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



from Connecticut river. Grafton 
turnpike passes through the N. E. 
part of Hanover to Orford. A 
handsome bridge connects the S. W. 
part of the town with Norwich. 
The principal village is in the S. W 
ooinerof the town, on a beautiful 
and extensive plain, half a mile 
from Connecticut river, and 180 
feet above the level of its waters. 
Vegetable substances are found in 
different parts of this plain at a 
depth of from 50 to 80 feet. The 
number of houses is upwards ef 70, 
the best of which are erected round 
a square level area of 12 acres. 
The remainder stand on different 
streets, leading from the green in all 
directions. On the N. side of the 
green is a spacious meeting-house ; 
on the S. a brick tontine, four sto- 
ries high, and 150 feet long. The 
number of deaths in tliis village, of 
which the population is 633, in 
1821, was three. The annual aver- 
age for the last 16 years has been 
about seven. It is pechaps as heal- 
thy as any place of its size in New- 
England. A spring of excellent 
water was brought in 1821, a dis- 
tance of 1 3-4 mile in leaden pipes, 
at an expense of $3,500. There 
are 6 law offices, two taverns, two 
bookstores, one apothecary's shop 
and five English and W. I. goods' 
stores. In this pleasant village is 
located Dartmouth college, of 
which an account is given in the 
General View, page 31. The 
College buildings are a handsome 
edifice of wood, 150 feet by 50, 
three stories high, {See plate) con- 
taining 34 rooms for undergradu- 
ates,and 6 rooms for other purposes ; 
an edifice of brick, styled Medica] 
House, 75 feet long and 32 wide, 
three stories high, {See annexed 
View) containing a laboratory, an 
anatomical museum, a minerologi- 
naX cabinet, two lecture reoms, and 



six rooms for students ; and a con- 
venient chapel. A greenhouse 
has lately been erected, which will 
soon be furnished with an ample 
collection of botanical specimens. 
Though a more central situation 
for the only collegiate institution in 
the state would be on some accounts 
highly desirable, yet it has often 
been remarked, that the location of 
Dartmouth college is peculiarly 
favorable to study and the preserva- 
tion of morals. Circumstances 
conducive to these objects in addi- 
tion to establishments wisely arrang- 
ed for the pursuits of literature, are 
to be found in the salubrity of the 
situation, the uniform temperature 
of the climate and the pleasantness 
[of the village, which is neither too 
populous nor too solitary. Among 
the worthy men who have finished 
their earthly career in this place, 
may be mentioned Rev. EleAzAR 
Whejelock, D. D. who died April 
24, 1779, aged 68 ^ Hon. John 
Wheelock, LL. D. President of 
the college 35 years, who died 
April 4, 1817, aged 63 ; Hon. Bez- 
ALEEL, Woodward, who died 
Aug. 1804; Rev. John Smith, 
D. D. who died April, 1809 ; Hon. 
John HuBBARD,who died in Sept. 
1810; and Rev. Francis Brovtn, 
D. D. who died July 27, 1820, aged 
36. These gentlemen were all 
connected with the college. The 
first newspaper printed in Hanover 
was published by Alden Spooner. 
" The Eagle or Dartmouth Centi- 
nel," was commenced July 22» 
1793, by Josiah Dunham, A. M. and 
continued by different publishers 
till 1799. "The Dartmouth Ga- 
zette," by Moses Davis, commen- 
ced Aug. 27, 1799, discontinued in 
1820. The "Dartmouth Herald," 
by Bannister & Thurston, commen- 
ced June 21, 1820; discontinued 
July 25, 1821. Hanover was grant* 



NEW-HAMP&HIRE GAZETTEER. 



153 



ed by charter, July 4, 1761, to eleven 
persons of the name of Freeman 
and 52 others, principally belong- 
ing to Connecticut. The first set- 
tlement was made in May, 1765, 
by Col. Edmund Freeman, from 
Mansfield, Conn. In 1766, Benja- 
min Davis and Benjamin Rice from 
the same place, and Gideon Smith 
and Asa Parker, became settlers. 
All of the first settlers were 
from Connecticut and most of 
ihem were from the towns of Mans- 
field and Coventry. In 1770, Dart- 
mouth college was established here 
by Dr. Wheelock. At that time 
there were 20 families in town. A 
church was gatl^red in the college 
by Dr. Wheelock in Jan. 1771. 
Those who have successively offici- 
ated in this church, which still ex- 
ists, are Rer. Messrs. Wheelock 
Ripley, Smith and Shurtleff. The 
first settled minister of tlie church 
and town was Rev. Eden Burroughs, 
who was installed in Sept. 1772. 
He continued in the miwistry until 
a division arose, which occasioned 
the foundation of a new church 
and society, over which Rev. Sam- 
uel Collins was installed in Nov. 
1788. He was dismissed in 1795. 
Rev. Dr. Burroughs was dismissed 
in 1809. Soon after, these church- 
es were united, and now form one 
congregational church, over which 
Rev. Josiah Tovme was ordained 
in June, 1814. There is a baptist 
church, over which Rev. Abel 
Bridgman was settled in 1791 ; died 
1800. Rev. Isaac Bridgman, set- 
tled in 1800 ; died 1815. Pop. 
2222. 

Hart's Island, in Connecti- 
cut river in the township of Plain- 
field, contains 19 acres. 

Haverhill, a post-town, and 

the half shire town in Grafton 

county, in lat. 44° 3', is bounded 

N. E. by Bath, E. by Coventry, S. 

02 



W. by Piermont, and W. by New- 
bury, Vt. containing 34,340 acres. 
It is 31 miles from Plymouth, 70 
from Concord, 27 from Dartmouth 
college, and 132 from Boston. It 
is watered by Oliverian brook, pas- 
sing through the S. part and falling 
into Connecticut river above Be- 
del's bridge, and by Hazen brook 
passing the centre of the town, and 
falling into the Connecticut near 
the Great Ox Bow, in Newbury. 
Haverhill is a pleasant town, though 
but thinly inhabited for several 
miles in the centre along the main 
road. The soil is loam mixed with 
gravel and suited to every species 
of cultivation. There is a quarry 
of granite suitable for mill stones, 
for buildings, &:c. and a bed of iron 
ore, on the W. side of Coventry 
bordering this town. Haverhill is 
divided into tv/o parishes, the south 
and north, in each of which is a 
congregational church and a meet- 
ing-house. The principal village 
is at the S. W. angle of the town, 
and known by the name of Haver- 
hill Corner. There is a beautiful 
common in this village, laid out in 
an oblong square, around vvluch 
the buildings regularly stand. The 
site is a handsome elevation, over- 
looking the adjacent country ma- 
ny miles N. and S., and not less 
than 6 or 7 miles E. and W. From 
the street, the ground slopes v^ith 
unusual elegance to the west ; 
and is succeeded by large intervals. 
Tlie prospect here is delightful. 
Tins village contains 46 dwelling- 
houses, 34 of which are two stories 
high, and one, three stories high, 
built of brick, and two of the oth- 
ers are built of brick ; a court- 
house which is a brick edifice, 53 
feet by 43, with a projection 2© 
feet by 10; an academy, Grafton 
bank, printing office, post office, 8 
stores. 2 tavern*, jail, &c. Five 



154 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



stage coaches now arrive at this 
villaj^e, twice in a week each, fo 
of which are mail coaches. There 
is a pleasant village forming at tht- 
N. W. angle of the town, on a 
street nearly a mile in length 
straight and very level. The Ha- 
verhill academy was opened in 
Sept. 1793, and incorporated Feb. 
11, 1794. The lower story of the 
court-!;ouse is appropriated to it? 
use. There is a social library, in- 
corporated June 17, 1817. The 
newspapers puV)lished here have 
been " The Coos Courier," which 
commenced April 21, 1808, and 
lire " New-Hampshire Intelligen 
cer,'' which commenced in 1820 
by Sylvester T. Goss, who also 
publishes the *' Evangelist," a relig- 
ious paper. Nathaniel Coverly 
published a paper for about 6 
months prior to 1800 ; and 3 or 4 
numbers of a magazine were pub- 
lished by Mosely Dunham. Ha 
verhill was granted by charter. 
May 18, 17G4, to John Hazen and 
74 others. Its first settlement was 
made in 1764, by Capt. John Ha 
zen, who settled on the Little Ox 
Bow, near v.here there had former- 
ly been an Indian fort and burying 
ground, and where many Indian 
skulls and relics have been found. 
Several of the early settlers were 
from Newbury and Haverhill, Ms. 
and from the last place, this town 
derived its name. Its former name 
was Lower Cohos. The first court 
was holden here, Oct. 21, 1773. 
The first minister was Rev. Peter 
Powers, the first male child born 
in Hollis, who was settled over 
Haverhill and Newbury, Vt. in 
I765,and was dismissed in 1784. He 
died at Deer Isle, Me.in 1799. The 
first congregational church, in the 
S. parish, was formed Oct. 30, 1790. 
Rev. Ethan Smith was ordained 
Jan, 25, 1792; dismissed June 23, 



1799. Rev. John Smith was or- 
dained Dec. 23, 1802 j dismissed 
Jan. 14, 1807. Rev. Grant Pow- 
ers, from Hollis, ordained Jan. 4, 
1315. The church contains 93 
members. There is a 2d church 
in the N. parish. There is a so- 
ciety of methodists, consisting of 
three classes. Hon. MoSES Dow 
was one of the most distinguished 
citizens of this place. He was 
born in Atkinson ; obtained a col- 
legiate education by his own exer- 
tions, was graduated at Harvard 
college in 1769. After studying 
the profession of law, he practised 
as an attorney five years at Haver- 
iiill, Ms. ; live years at Plymouth, 
N. H., from whence he removed 
to this town, where he practised 
until within a few years of his 
death He was, more than 30 
years, register of probate, was a 
colonel, a brigadier general, speak- 
er of the house of representatives, 
senior senator in 1791, and one of 
the judges of the court in Grafton 
county, which of&ce he sustained 
till his death, March 31, 1811, at 
the age of 64. Hon. Charles 
Johnston, who died March 5, 
1813, aged 76, resided here. He 
was a valuable officer in the revo- 
lution, and was many years, judge 
of probate in Grafton county. 
Hon. James Woodward and Hon. 
Ezekiel Ladd were among the ear- 
ly settlers, and were judges of the 
old county court. Pop. 1600. 

Hawke, township, formerly a 
part of Kingston, Rockingham co., 
is in lat. 42° 57', and bouaded N. 
by Poplin, E. by Kingston, S. by 
Kingston and Hampstead, W. by 
Sandown, and contains 7000 acres. 
It was incorporated Feb. 22, 1760, 
and derived its name from a Brit- 
ish admiral. In 1775, there v'cre 
500 inhabitants more than there 
has been at any time since. The 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



156 



soil is uneven, but in some parts 
good. Squamscot river passes ove) 
tiie N. W. corner of Hawke. Long 
pond lies in the E. part, and Cub 
pond on the W. side, adjoining 
Sandown. The first settlements 
were made by Jonathan Sanborn, 
Jacob Hook and others between 
1735 and 1739. Rev. John Page 
was ordained over a congregation- 
al church here Dec. 21, 1763, and 
died of the small pox Jan. 29, 
1782, aged 43. Since that time no 
minister has been settled. The av- 
erage annual number of deaths foi 
the last ten years, has been 5. 
Hawke has a convenient meeting- 
bouse, and three schools. Pop. 
421. 

Hebron, a township in Grafton 
CO., lat. 43° 42' is bounded N. by 
Rumney and Plymouth, E. by Ply- 
mouti\ S. by Bridgewater, Alexan 
«lria and Orange, W. by Groton. It 
contains 1 3,350 acres, of which one 
eighth part is water. It is 9 miles 
from Plymouth and 40 from Con- 
cord. A considerable part of New- 
found lake lies in the S. E. part of 
this town. The Mayhew turnpike 
passes through the E. part, and for 
some distance near the lake and par- 
allel with it. It has no river,nor any 
important streams. Nearly one 
half of this town was included in 
the grant of Cockermoutb, now 
Groton. The remaining part was 
taken from Plymouth. It was in- 
corporated June 15, 1792. In 
1801, the inhabitants erected a 
handsome meeting-house, but have 
had no settled minister. Pop. 572. 

Henniker, a post-township in 
HUlsborough county, in lat. 43° 10', 
is bounded N. by Warner and 
Bradford, E. by Hopkinlon, S. by 
Deering and Weare, and W. by 
Hillsborough, containing 26,500 
acres. It is 27 miles from Amherst, 
15 W. from Concord, and 75 from 



Boston. Contoocook river passes 
oasterly through its centre and di- 
vides the town into nearly equal 
portions of territory and population. 
Its course is rather circuitous, and 
in many places presents scenes of 
considerable interest and beauty. 
Few places afford better prospects 
for the successful operation of any 
sort of water machinery than this. 
There are several ponds of consid- 
erable size. Long pond is the lar- 
gest being between 1 and 2 miles 
in length, and from 40 to 80 rods 
wide— situated 1 mile N. of the 
centre village. Craney hill is the 
principal elevation, and embraces 
a large portion of territory on the 
S. side of the town. It is mostly 
in a state of cultivation. Henni- 
ker, in its soil and productions, can 
justly claim a character for as much 
variety and fertility as any town 
in the county. The soil of the 
hills is favorable for wheat — the 
valleys produce good crops of 
corn. The roads here have been 
much improved within a few years, 
and the bridges are kept in good 
repair. In 1818, a bridge across 
the Contoocook was constructed at 
an expense of <^000, having its 
abutments and principal pier of 
split granite, and fastened together 
with iron bolts. There is a social 
lihrai-y, incorporated Nov. 30, 1803, 
containing 170 volumes. Those 
who have received a collegiate ed- 
ucation are, at Dartmouth college, 
Tilly Howe, 1783 ; Elisha Morrill, 
1799; David C. Proctor, 1818; 
James C. Goss, 1820: at Union 
college, Solomon Ward -. at Har- 
vard college, Timothy Darling, 
1822. The number of deaths for 
20 years preceding Aug. 1822, was 
370, making an annual average of 
18 1-2. The greatest instance of 
longevity was Mary Wallace, aged 
9i. In 1815, 31 persons died of 



156 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



the spotted fever. Henniker was 
granledJuly 16, 1752,t)y the Ma- 
sonian propiielors, under the name 
of JVumber 6, to James Wallace, 
Robert Wallace and others of Lon- 
donderry. Its settlement commen 
ced in 1761 by James Peters. A 
large proportion of its earliest in 
habitants were from Marlborough 
Mass. It was incorporated Nov. 
10, 1768, when it received its pres 
ent name from governor Went 
worth, in honor of his friend Hen- 
niker, probably John Henniker 
Esq., a merchant in London and a 
member of the British parliament 
at that time. The congregational 
church was formed June 7, 1769, 
and consisted of 9 members. Rev 
Jacob Rice, a graduate of Harvard 
college, was ordained at the same 
time; dismissed Feb. 21, 1782, 
He is now the minister of Brown- 
field, Me. ; and at the age of 83, 
is active in the discharge of his 
parochial duties. Rev. Moses Saw 
yer, graduated at Dartmouth col- 
lege in 1799, was ordained May 
26, 1802. Hon. Robert Wal 
l^ACE, who was one of the early 
settlers, was long known in the va 
vious capacities of representative 
senator, counsellor, and associate 
judge of the court of common pleas 
An unusual proportion of his life, 
which was continued to the age of 
66 years, was employed in public 
service. The man is larely found 
who had fewer enemies at home or 
abroad, and who maintained 
through life a more unsullied repu- 
tation than Judge Wallace. He 
died in Jan. 1815. Pop. 1900. 

Hillsborough, a post-town- 
ship in Hillsborough county, in lat. 
43° 9', is bounded N. by Bradford, 
E. by Henniker, S. by Deeringand 
Antrim, W. by Windsor and part 
of Washington, containing 27,320 
acres. It is 23 miles from Amherst, 



15 from Hopkinton, 24 from Con- 
cord and 70 from Boston. This 
towTi is well watered. Contoo- 
cook river passes through the S. E. 
corner, and affords several excel- 
lent water privileges. Hillsbor- 
ough river has its source from 
ponds in Washington ; runs in a 
S. E. course through the whole ex- 
tent of Hillsborough, receiving the 
outlets of several ponds on the E. 
and forms a junction with the Coa- 
toocook,on the S. line of this town. 
The largest pond, called Lyon pond, 
is nearly a mile in length, and two 
thirds of a mile wide. This, with 
other considerable ponds, make a 
surface of about 500 acres of 
water. The land here is une- 
ven, but it affords many good farms. 
There is a small pleasant village 
on the 2d N. H. turnpike which 
passes N. W. through this town, 
containing a number of dwelling- 
houses, stores, mills, a post office, 
and tavern. The meeting-house is 
2 miles N. of this village. A post 
office was established here in 1803. 
There is a cotton and woollen fac- 
tor}^ which has been incorporated. 
Hillsborough was formerly known 
by the name of JVumber 7 of fron- 
tier towns. The time it was orig- 
inally granted is not ascertained. 
The first settlement was made in 
1741, by James M'Calley, Samuel 
Gibson, Robert M'Clure, James 
Lyon and others,said to have been 
from Boston and its vicinity. James 
M'Calley was married, and his 
wife was the only woman in town 
the first year. The first childrenborn 
in Hillsboro' were John M'Calley & 
— Gibson,*who intermarried, and 
received as "a gift, a tract of land, 
from the principal proprietor. The 
Cape Breton war in 1744 was the 
means of breaking up the settle- 
ment ; which was not resumed un- 
til a few years prior to 1759. In 



NEW-HAP^PSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



157 



the interval, the town was granted 
by the Masonian proprietors to Col. 
John Hill, of Boston, liom whom 
it derives its name. It vas incor- 
porated by charter, Nov. 14, 1772. 
A congregational church was form- 
ed Oct. 12, 1769. Rev. Jonathan 
Barns, who graduated at Harvard 
college in 1770, was ordained Nov. 
S5, 1772 ; dismissed Oct. 20,1803; 
and died Aug. 3, 1805. Rev. Ste- 
phen Ciiapin,(nowD.D.) who grad- 
uated at Harvard college in 1804, 
was ordained June 19, 1805 ; dis- 
missed May 12, 1808. Rev. Seth 
Chapin, who graduated at Brown 
University, R. J., was ordained 
Jan. 1, 1812; dismissed June 26, 
1816. Rev. John Lawton, from 
Windham, Vt. was installed Nov. 
7, 1821. A baptist society was 
formed May 21, 1813, and the 
church gathered August 31, 1820, 
Pop. 1982. 

Hilton's Point, on the Pascat- 
aqua, forms the S. E. extremity of 
Dover ; and is so called from the 
circumstance of the original set- 
tlers, Edward and William Hilton 
establishing themselves at this 
place. See Dover. 

HiN6DAL£, a post-town in the 
S. W. corner of Cheshire co., in 
lat. 42° 48', is bounded N. by Ches- 
terfield, E. by Winchester, S. by 
Northfield in Massachusetts, and 
W. by Vernon and Brattleborough 
in Vermont, containing 14,000 
acres. It is 75 miles from Con- 
cord, 96 from Boston, 86 from Hart- 
ford, Conn., and 86 from Albany. 
It is well watered with springs and 
rivulets of the purest water. The 
Connecticut washes its western 
border ; and the Ashuelot runs 
through the centre, forming a junc- 
tion with the Connecticut, a little 
below the great bend, called Coop- 
er's point. Kilburn brook rises in 
Fisgah mountain, runs S. and falls 



into Ashuelot river. Ash-swamp 
brook rises in West river moun- 
tain, runs a S. W. course, and falls 
into the Connecticut, near the site 
of Hinsdale's fort. There are sev- 
eral islands in the Connecticut in 
this town. On the N. line of Hins- 
date, is West river mounuin whick 
extends from the banks of the Con- 
necticut E. across the whole width 
of the town. Its greatest elevation 
is at the W. end. President Dwight 
states the height above low water 
mark to be from 800 to 900 feet. 
In this mountain is found iron ore, 
and some other minerals and fos- 
sils ; but to what extent or value 
they exist, it has not been ascer- 
tained. Some years since, there 
was a slight volcanic eruption, but 
nothing of that kind has appeared 
of late. N. of Ashuelot, on the 
E. line of the town, is Pisgah moun- 
tain. S. of Ashuelot, is Stebbin's 
hill, a tract of excellent land, and 
principally in a high state of culti- 
vation. The intervals here are ex- 
tensive, and of an excellent qual- 
ity. Between the intervals and 
the hills in the N. part of the town, 
is a large tract of plain, which is 
well suited for corn, rye and clover. 
The forest trees are yellow, pitch 
and white pine, interspersed with 
white and yellow oak, chesnut and 
walnut. The principal roads 
through this town, are the sixth 
N. H. turnpike which crosses in a 
W. and N. W, direction from 
Winchester to Brattleborough, and 
the stage road from Northfield to 
Chesterfield. In 1802, a bridge 
was built over Connecticut river 
opposite Brattleborough village. 
It was rebuilt in 1820, and is a firm, 
commodious and elegant structure. 
In 1818, a new bridge was built 
over Ashuelot river, in the centre 
of the town. On the point of a 
hill» not far from Connecticut river, 



158 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



there is to be seen the remains of 
an Indian fortification, constructed 
prior to the settlement of the town. 
There is a deep trench drawn across, 
the hill to separate it from the 
plain back, and is continued to the 
river. All that is known respect- 
ing this ancient fortification is from 
vague and uncertain tradition. 
Hinsdale was incorporated Sept. 
y, 1733. it received its name from 
Col. Ebenezer Hinsdale, one of 
the principal inhabitants, who w as 
highly esteemed for his virtue and 
talents. It was originally a part 
of Northfield, and was granted by 
the government of Massachusetts, 
and was settled as early as 1683. 
It included in its limits, Vernon till 
Vermont became a separate state. 
The former name of this place 
was Fort Dummer and Bridgman's 
Fort. This town encountered all 
the difficulties of the Indian wars, 
and struggled with other hardships 
incident to frontier settlements, be- 
gun in the wilderness and remote 
from cultivated lands. The early 
settlers were protected by fort 
Dummer, Hinsdale's fort, Shattuck's 
fort and Bridgman's fort ; but these 
were insufficient to shield them 
from the hostile incursions of the 
Indians. On the 24 June, 1746, a 
party of 20 Indians came to Bridg- 
man's fort, 2 miles below fort Dum- 
mer, and attacked a number of 
mejd who were at work in a mead- 
x>\v. William Bobbins and James 
Parker were killed; Daniel How 
and JohnBeeman taken prisoners ; 
M. Gilson and Patrick Ray woun- 
ded, but recovered. How killed 
one of the Indians before he was 
taken. In 1747, they burned Bridg- 
man's fort, killed several persons 
and took others from that place. 
In Oct., Jonathan Sawtell was ta- 
ken prisoner. July 3, 1747, they 
waylaid a mill in Hinsdale. Col. 



Willard having come to the mill 
with a guard of 20 men, for the 
purpose of grinding corn, and hav- 
ing placed his guards, they were 
soon fired upon. The colonel gave 
such loud, and repeated orders to 
attack the enemy, that they fled 
with the greatest precipitation,leav- 
ing behind them their packs and 
provisions. On June 16, 1748, in 
crossing from Col. Hinsdale's to 
Ibrt Dummer, Nathan French, Jo- 
seph Richardson, and John Frost 
were killed ; seven others were 
captured, one of whom, W' illiam 
Bickford, died of his wounds. In 
1755, they attacked a party, who 
were at w ork in the woods ; killed 
John Hardiclay and John Alexan- 
der, and took Jonathan Colby ; the 
others escaped to the fort. On the 
27th of July, thej-^ ambushed Caleb 
Howe, Hilkiah Grout, and Benja- 
min Gaffield as they were return- 
ing from their labor in the field. 
(See Belknap vol. ii. p. 295, and 
ditto vol. iii. p. 277.) The con- 
gregational church was formed in 
1763. Rev. Bunker Gay, who 
graduated at Harvard college in 
1760, was ordained in 1763; died 
Oct. 19, 1815. A baptist church 
was formed in 1808, which has been 
under the pastoral care of Rev. 
Jeremy Parker. Pop. 890. 

HoLDERNESS, post-township in 
Grafton county, in lat. 4.3° 44', is 
bounded N. by Campton, E. by 
Sandwich, MouUonborough and 
Centre-Harbov, S. by Centre-Har- 
bor and New-Hampton, and W. by 
Peraigewasset river, separating it 
I from Bridge water and Plymouth. 
lit contains 24,921 acres. It is 65 
[miles from Portsmouth and 40 from 
iConcord. The soi] is hard and 
not easily cultivated, but, when sub- 
dued, is tolerably productive. The 
[prevailing wood is oak, mixed with 
Ipine.beech and maple. From the sap 



NEW HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



159 



of the sii*ar maple, {acer sacchari- 
num) a considerable quantity of su- 
gar is annually made. The Pemige- 
wasset imparts a portion of its ben- 
efits to this place, and there are va- 
rious other streams which serve to 
fertilize the soil, and to furnish 
mill seats. Squam river, the out- 
let of Squam ponds, runs in a S. 
W. direction and empties into the 
Pemigewasset near the S. W. angle 
of the town. This stream affords 
excellent mill privileges, having on 
it, 1 saw and grain mill, 2 paper 
mills, 2 carding machines, 1 trip- 
hammer and 1 bark mill. There 
are three ponds or lakes. Squam 
lake, lying on the borders of this 
town, Moultonborough, Sandwich 
and Centre Harbor, is about 6 miles 
long, and from 4 to 5 wide. Squam 
pond, lying wholly in Holderness, 
is about 2 miles long, and 1-2 a 
mile wide. White Oak pond is 
about 1 mile long. The road from 
Plymouth through this place to 
Winnepisiogee lake, and along the 
borders of that lake to Wolfebor- 
ough is highly interesting ; display 
ing scenery which is scarcely 
equalled in this part of our counttry. 
Holderness was first granted by 
charter, Oct. 10, 1751, to John 
Shepard and others, but this char 
ter was forfeited because its condi 
tions were not fulfilled l)y the gran 
tees. It was again granted Oct. 
24, 1761, to John Wentworth and 
sixty-seven others, all of them, it 
is said, professing the doctrines of 
the church of England. The first 
Settlement was made about the year 
1763, by William Piper from Dur- 
ham, or its vicinity. Others of the 
early settlers were from Barrington 
In this place, there is an episcopa 
ehurch, over which, Rev. Robert 
Fowle has ofiiciated for more than 
thirty years. He was graduated at 
Harvard college in 1786, and was 



ordained at Portsmouth by bishop 
Seabury, in 1791. Tliere are some 
congregationalists, baptists, and 
methodists. Hon. Samuel Liv- 
ERMORE commenced a settlement 
in this town in 1765 ; was one of 
the grantees, and by purchase, be- 
came proprietor of about half of 
the township. He was a native 
of Waltham, Mass., where he was 
born May 14, 1732, O. S. He grad- 
uated at Princeton college in 1754; 
studied law with the Hon. judge 
Trowbridge, and was admitted to 
practice in the S. J. C. of N. H. in 
Jan. 1757. He settled in N. H. 
in 1758, and in 1769 was appointed 
King's attorney general. After the 
assumption of government by the 
people, he was in the ofiice of at- 
torney general. He was, several 
years, a delegate to the old con- 
gress. In 1782, he was appointed 
chief justice of the superior court. 
From 1792 to 1802, he was a sena- 
tor of the U. S., which office he re- 
signed on account of declining 
health. He died in May, 1803, 
aged 71. Pop. 1160. 

HOLLIS, a post town, in Hillsbo- 
rough county, in lat. 42"^ 44', is 
bounded N. by Milford and Am- 
herst, E. by Dunstable, S. by the 
state line of Mass., W. by Brook- 
line, cpntaining 19,620 acres. It is 
8 miles from Amherst, 36 from Con- 
cord and 42 from Boston. Nashua 
river waters the S. E. part, and Ni- 
sitissit crosses the S. W. extremity. 
There are four ponds, known by the 
name of Flint's, Penichook, Long 
and Rocky ponds. This town con- 
tains a variety of soils. On the 
Nashua is some excellent interval. 
In the N. and S. E. parts are con- 
siderable tracts of pine land. There 
is a pleasant village near the cen- 
tre of the town, on a site somewhat 
elevated, having a handsome con- 
Jgregational meeting-house, a nuni- 



160 



NEW -HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



ber of dwelling houses, stores, 
post office, an attorney's office, andj 
other buildings. Tnere is a socie ' 
ty, formed in 1801, and incorpoia 
ted in 1814, for raising a fund 'vhicb 
shall be adequate to suppoit the gos 
pel in this place. Its amount of 
funds is over <j^2000. There is a 
social library containing 120 vol 
times. This town has produced e 
large number of persons who have 
received a collegiate education 
The following is a list of them, viz 
At Harvard College, Rev. Peter 
Powers, 1754; Rev. Josiah Good- 
hue, 1755; Rev. Henry Cumings, 
D.D. 1760; Joseph Emerson, 1774; 
Dr. Samuel Emerson, 1785; Josiah 
Burge. 1787; Rev. Daniel Emer- 
son, 1794; Rev. Joseph Emerson, 
1798 ; Benjamin M. Farley, 1804 ; 
Benjamin Burge, M.IX 1805; John 
Proctor, 1813; Rev. William P. 
Kendrick, 1816; George F. Farley, 
1816 ; Taylor G. Worcester, now 
m senior year. — At Dartmouth col- 
lege. Rev. Samuel Worcester, D.D. 
1795; Rev. Abel Farley, 1798; 
Rev. Mighill Blood, 1800; Rev. 
David Jewett, 1801; Rev. Caleb J. 
Tenney, 1801 ; Jonathan Eastman, 
1803 ; N. Hardy, 1803 ; Rev. Ste- 
phen Farley, 1804 ; Rev. Eli Smith, 
1809 ; Rev. Grant Powers, 1810 ; 
Rev. Leonard Jewett, 1810; Dr. 
Noah Hardy, 1812; Luke Eastman, 
IS12.— At Yale college. Joseph E. 
Worcester, 1811; Rev. Ralph Em- 
erson, 1811.— At Brown univer.n- 
ty. Rev. Daniel Kendrick, 1809 ; 
Luther Smith. At Middlebury col- 
lege. William Tenney, 1808; Rev. 
Fifield Holt & Solomon Hardy.— 
At Tennessee college. Eli Sawtell. 
Besides these, all of whom were 
natives of Hollis, are several who 
have received honorary degrees 
from the New-England colleges. 
Rev. Noah Worcester received the 
ilegree of D. D. from Harvard col- 



lege in 1818, and Rev. Thomas 
Worcester that of A.M. from Dart- 
>w>uth college, in 1806. The old- 
est person living in the preceding 
list is the venerable Dr. Cumings of 
S'Uerica, who has been the minis- 
ter of that place more than 60 years. 
The number of deaths for 25 years 
ending in 1818, was 567. One in 
nine lived to the age of 80 years or 
upward*!. Mrs. Ulrick. a native of 
Ireland, died here in 1789, at the 
age of 104— was active till after she 
was an hundred. The original 
name of Hollis was JSTisitissit, its 
Indian name. It was afterwards 
the West Parish of Dunstable. The 
first settlement was made by Capt. 
Peter Powers in 1731. Peter Pow- 
ers, his son, was the first child born 
in town. It was incorporated April 
3, 1746. The name is either deri- 
ved from Thomas Hollis, a distin- 
guished benefactor of Harvard col- 
lege, or from the Duke of New-Cas- 
tle, whose name was Hollis. The 
congregational church was formed 
in 1743. Rev. Daniel Emerson, 
from Reading, who graduated at ^ 
Harvard college in 1739, was or- 
dained April 20. 1743 ; died Sept. 
30, 1801, aged 85. Rev. Eli Smith, 
who graduated at Brown University 
in 1792, was ordained as colleague 
with Mr. Emerson, Nov. 27, 1793. 
The number of communicants is 
about 270. The late NoAM 
Worcester, Esq, was a resident 
in this town. For a notice of liira, 
see Historical Collections for 1822, 
p. 260. Pop. 1543. 

HooKSETT, post town, in Hills- 
borough county, in lat. 43° 5,' is 
hounded N. by Bow and Aliens- 
town, E. by Deerfield and Candia, 
S, by Chester and Manchester, and 
W. by Goffstown. It is nine miles 
from Concord, 12 from Hopkinton, 
and 54 from Boston. The river 
Merrimack, whose course here is 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



161 



nearly N. and S. passes throsgh] 
this town a little W. of the centre. ! 
Here are those beautiful falls, 
known by the name of Isle of Hook- 
sett Falls. The descent of water 
is about 16 feet perpendicular in 30 
rods. A high rock divides the 
stream, and a smaller rock lies be- 
tween that and the western shore. 
From an eminence, called the Pin- 
nacle, on the W. side, there is a 
delightful landscape ; the water 
above and below the falls, the ver- 
dant banks, the cultivated fields, 
and the distant hills in the back 
ground, form a picturesque scene, 
\*hich relieves the eye of the 
traveller from the dull uniformity 
of a road not rendered remarka 
ably pleasant. The soil in a con- 
siderable portion of this town 
is not of the most fertile character, 
but there are some excellent farms 
under a good state of cultivation, 
and the interests of agriculture re- 
ceive more attention than formerly. 
There is a small village on the W. 
side of the river, containing two 
taverns, two stores and a number of 
dwelling-houses and mechanics' 
shops. The Londonderry turnpike 
passes through this village. There 
is a strong and well built bridge 
over Merrimack river. Hooksett 
canal is in this town. It is 1-4 of 
a mile long — the fall is 16 feet per- 
pendicular. It cost $6,210. Hook- 
sett w^as detached from Chester, 
Goffstown and Dunbarton, and in- 
corporated as a separate town in 
June, 1822. No enumeration has 
been made of the number of inhab- 
itants. The number of voters is 
150. A large and extensive cotton 
factory is soon to be built on the E. 
side of the river, which will add to 
the business and wealth of the 
place. 

HoPKiNTON, a post town, and 
one of the seats of justice in Hills- 



borough county, is situated in lat. 
43° 11', and is bounded N. by War- 
ner and Boscawen, E. by Concord, 
S. by Bow, Dunbarton and Weare, 
and W. by Henniker. It contains 
26,967 acres. It is 28 miles N. of 
Amherst, 7 W. of Concord, 46 N.E. 
of Keene, 30 S. E. of Newport, 50 
W. of Portsmouth and 65 N.N.W. 
of Boston. Contoocook river flows 
from Henniker into the southwest- 
erly part of this town, and mean- 
ders in a N. E. direction. In its 
course it receives Warner and 
Blackwater rivers and several large 
brooks, and empties into Merrimack 
river at Concord. On these streams 
are some valuable tracts of inter- 
val and meadow lauds, which were 
laid out in small parcels, and are 
principally owned by persons who 
have upland farms. Widely ex- 
tended hills comprise a coiisidera- 
blepart of the surface S. of Con- 
toocook river. They were former- 
ly covered with a heavy growth of 
deciduous trees, interspersed with 
evergreens ; but these swells now 
exhibit many well cultivated farms. 
The declivities and vales are now 
found the most easy lands for culti- 
vation, producing fine crops of grass, 
corn, rye, &c. The hills on the N. 
of the river were formerly covered 
with white, black, and yellow oak. 
The intervening grounds and some 
bordering on the S. side of the 
river, were well clad with the vari- 
ous kinds of pine and other trees. 
The inhabitants are accommodated 
with numerous well made common 
roads, which arc kept in very good 
repair; but those of the greatest 
public travel through the town have 
been located anew in many places 
and are not well made. The Lon- 
donderry Branch turnpike extends 
about two miles through the S. E. 
part of the town. There is a pleas- 
ant village, 7 miles from the state- 



1,62 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



house ill Concord, containing a con- 
gregational meeting house, a spa- 
cious town and court house, a jail, 
42 dwelling houses, 4 stores and 4 
attorneys' offices. There are in 
the town a second congregational 
meeting house, a baptist meeting 
house, 5 grist mills, 5 saw mills, 2 
clothing mills, 1 trip hammer, and 
2 mills for circular sawing clap- 
boards. There is a social library, 
containing 130 volumes. Hopkin- 
ton was granted by Massachusetts, 
Jan. 16, 1735, to John Jones and 
others, of Hopkinton in that state, 
and was called JVumber 5, and af- 
terwards JVew- Hopkinton. The first 
settlement was made about 1740, 
by emigrants from Hopkinton, Ms. 
In consequence of the French and 
Indian war, which commenced in 
1744, the inhabitants were compel- 
led to leave the place, and the set- 
tlement was not resumed till after 
the conclusion of that war. This 
town suffered from Indian depreda 
tions. On the22d of April, 1746, 
six Indians, armed with muskets, 
tomahawks, knives, &c., broke into 
a garrison, and took prisoners eight 

Sersons, while in their beds, viz. 
Ir. Woodwell, his wife, two sons 
and a daughter, Samuel Burbank, 
and his two sons, Caleb and Jona- 
than. <S'ee Hist. Coll. for 1822, p. 
284. Abraham Kimball was the 
first male child born in town — he 
was born April 18, 1741. He is 
now (1823) living in Peachani, Vt. 
at tlie advanced age of 82 years. 
On the 13th of April, 1753, while 
going from Kimball's garrison to 
Putney's garrison, he was taken by 
the Indians, who, also, at the same 
time, took Samuel Putney, a man 
60 years of age. On the 3d day 
after they were taken, the Indians 
being on the hills, W. of Boscawen 
plains were so suddenly attacked 
by some of the inhabitants of Bos- 



cawen, that they fled, leaving Put- 
ney in the rear, and Kimball es- 
caped through the help of a dog, 
who seized an Indian while in the 
act of drawing his tomahawk to kill 
Kimball. Nov. 30, 1750, Henry 
Mellen and others received a grant 
from the Masonian proprietors, 
which occasioned a long and per- 
plexing dispute with the proprietors 
of Bow. It was finally settled by the 
incorporating charter, which was 
granted Jan. 11, 1765. The con* 
gregational church was gathered 
Nov. 23, 1757, and Rev. James 
Scales was ordained the same day. 
" The ordination was solemnized 
in Putney's fort, so called, and the 
numerous spectators attended the 
solemnity abroad in the open air, 
the weather being very warm, calm 
and pleasant for the season." Mr. 
Scales was dismissed July 4, 1770^ 
and Rev. Elijah Fletcher, from 
Westford, who graduated at Har- 
ard College in 1769, was ordaiHed 
J;fn. 27, 1723. He died April- 8, 
1786, aged 39. Rev. Jacob Cram 
was ordained Feb. 25, 1789 ; dis* 
missed Jan. 6, 1792. Rev. Ethan 
Smith was installed March 12, 
1800; dismissed Dec. 16, 1817. 
Rev. Roger C. Hatch, who gradu- 
ated at Yale College in 1815, was 
ordained Oct. 21, 1818. The bap- 
tist society was formed the 8th of 
May, 1771. The episcopal society, 
by the name of Christ's Church, 
was established in 1803, and ad- 
mitted to the union with the other 
churches in the state, and to a seat 
in convention, on the 17th of Aug., 
in the same year. Pop. 2437, of 
whom 520 are electors. 



Indian Stream, Coos co., the 
principal and the most northerly 
source of Connecticut river, rises 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



163 



in the highlands near the N. limit 
of the state, and pursues almost a 
direct S. W. course to its junction 
with the E. branch flowing from 
lake Connecticut. 

IsiJV GLASS river takes its rise 
from Long pond in Barrington and 
Bow pond in Strafford, and after 
receiving the waters of several 
other po»ds, unites with the Co- 
checo near the S. part of Roches- 
ter. 

Israel's river, is formed by the 
waters which descend in cataracts 
from the summits of Mounts Adams 
and Jefferson, and running N. W. \ 
it passes through Durand and Jef-| 
fersou, discharging itself into the! 
Connecticut near the centre of Lan- 
caster. It is a beautiful stream, 
and received its name from Israel i 
Glines, a hunter, who with his| 
brother frequented these regions! 
long before the settlement of the 
county. 

Isles of Shoals, a name ap- 
propriated to a cluster of islands, 8 
in number, situated 9 miles S. E. 
of the Portsmouth light-house, 21 
N. E. of Newlsuryport lights, and 
in lat. 42° 59'. The line which di- 
vides this state from Maine, passes 
through these islands, leaving Ha- 
Jey's.Hog, Duck, Cedar, and Mala- 
ga isles on the N. E. in Maine, and 
Gosport, or Star-island, White and 
Londonner's isles on the S. W. in 
New-Hampshire. The largest is 
Hog island, containing 350 acres. 
Star island contains 150; Haley's, 
100 ; Rnd the largest of the others 
about 8 — the smallest 1 acre. These 
islands Wei's discovered by the cele- 
brated John Smitli, in 1614, and 
were named by him SmiiJts Isles. 
They are a bed of rocks, raising 
their disjointed heads above the 
water, and for the most part cover- 
ed with a thin soil — their appear- 
ance is inhospitable ; and but foi 



their advantageous situation for 
carrying on tlie fisheries, would 
probably never have been inhabit- 
ed. Upon all the islands are chasms 
in the rocks,having the appearance 
of being caused by earthquakes. 
The most remarkable is on Star isl- 
and (Gosport,) in which one Betty 
Moody secreted herself when the 
Indians visited the island and took 
away many female captives ; and 
thence called to this day " Betty 
Moody's hole.'' For more than a 
century previous to the revolution, 
these islands were populous, con- 
taining from 300 to 600 souls. They 
had a court-house on Haley's isl- 
and ; a meeting-house, first on Hog 
island, and afterwards on Star isl- 
and. From 3 to 4 thousand quin- 
tals fish were annually caught and 
cured here, and 7 or 8 schooners, 
besides numerous boats, were em- 
ployed in the business. The busi- 
ness of these islands has since very 
greatly decreased ; there are now 
66 inhabitants in Gosport. Wil- 
liam Pepperell and a Mr. Gibbons, 
from Topsham, Eng. were among 
the first settlers at the Shoals — the 
former an ancestor of the celebra- 
ted Sir William Pepperell. Previ- 
ous to 1641, a meeting-house was 
erected on Hog island, and regu- 
lar preaching was thereafter had 
until 1775 — though Rev. John 
Tucke was the only clergyman or- 
dained. He continued to preach 
from his ordination in 1732, till 
his death Aug. 12, 1773. A wo- 
man, of the name of Pusley died 
in Gosport, in 1795, aged 90. In her 
life time she kept two cows. The 
hay on which they fed in winter, 
she used to cut in summer, among 
the rocks, with a knife with her own 
hands. Her cows, it was said, were 
always in good order. They were 
taken from her, but paid for, by 
fhe BriHsh, in 1775, and killed, to 



U4 



NEW. HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



the no small grief of the good old 
woman. 

J. 

Jaffret, a post-township, in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 42° 50', is 
bounded N. by Dublin, E. by Peter- 
borough and Sharon, S. by Rindge 
and Fitzwilliam, W. by Troy and 
Marlborough, containing 25,600 
acres. It it 62 miles N. W. from 
Boston and 46 S. 46° W. from Con- 
cord. The Grand Monadnock is 
Jituated in the N, W. part of this 
town and in Dublin. (See Monad- 
nock mountain.) rnnumerable 
streams of water issue from the 
mountain. Those which issue from 
the western side, discharge them- 
selves into the Connecticut river ; 
those from the eastern form the 
head waters of Contoocook river. 
The largest stream rises about 100 
rods from the summit, and descends 
in a S. E. direction. With this 
brook, the thirsty and fatigued visi- 
tors of the mountain associate the 
most pleasing recollections. Thir- 
ty years since, Monadnock was 
nearly covered with evergreen 
wood of considerable growth. By 
the repeated ravages of fire, it now 
presents to the distant beholder, 
nothing but a barren and bald rock. 
But on ascending, we find plats of 
earth sufficient to give growth to 
the blueberry, cranberry, mountain 
ash, and a variety of shrubs. Some 
caves are discovered, which excite 
curiosity. They appear to have 
been formed by large fissures, and 
by extensive strata being thrown 
from their primitive state, and form- 
ing different angles with each other 
and with perpendicular precipices. 
The uneven soil of Jaffrey, afford- 
ing numerous meadows and early 
and rich pasture, is peculiarly adap- 
ted to raising cattle. There are 
•everal ponds in this town. Out of 



three, issue streams sufficient to 
carry mills erected near their out- 
lets. In the largest, v/hich is 400 
rods long and 140 wide, is an island 
comprising about 10 acres. The 
3d N. H. turnpike passes through 
this town in a S. E. direction— on 
this turnpike a mail stage runs six 
days in a week. About 1 1-2 miles 
S. E. of the mountain is the " Mo- 
nadnock mineral spring." Some 
conveniences have been made for 
the use of the waters. The spring 
is slightly impregnated with carbo- 
nate of iron and sulphate of soda. 
It preserves so uniform a tempera- 
ture, as never to have been known 
to freeze. Where the spring issues 
from the earth, yellow ochre is 
thrown out. Upwards of 30 tons 
have been transported to Boston 
and its vicinity, and a considerabla 
quantity yet remains. In this town 
are a meeting-house, built in 1775, 
near the centre and principal village, 
a cotton and woollen factory, an oil 
mill, three grain and saw mills, and 
several stores. The purchasers of 
Mason's title to this town granted 
it to 40 persons, in 1749, who held 
their first meeting at Dunstable,Jan. 
16, 1750. The first permanent set- 
tlement was made in 1758 by 
one Grout and John Davison. It 
had been attempted in 1753 by 
Richard Peabody, Moses Stickney 
and a few others, who remained but 
two or three years. The first child 
was born in town in 1753 — a son of 
Moses Stickney. Jaffrey was in- 
corporated in 1773, receiving its 
name from George Jaffrey, Esq. of 
Portsmouth, one of the Masonian 
proprietors. Its former name was 
Middle Monadnock, or JVb. 2. The 
deaths for the last 10 years have 
averaged 13 a year, about one to 
100. In 1780, a congregational 
church was formed, and in 1782, 
the Rev. Laban AinswortK a grad* 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



16i 



uate of Dartmouth college in 1778, 
^as ordained as pastor. There are 
here a social library, a ladies' li- 
brary and a reading society, having 
in all about 300 volumes ; also char- 
itable associations. Pop. 1339. 

Jefferson, post-town, in the 
county of Coos, comprising 26,076 
acres of land and water, is bound- 
ed N. by Lancaster, E. by Kilken- 
ny, S. by Bretton Woods, W. by 
Whitefield. The turnpike road 
ftom Lancaster to Portland passes 
through this town ; and another 
road passing through Darand and 
N. of the White Mountains,branch- 
es from the turnpike here. Pondi- 
cherry pond, in this town, is about 
200 rods in diameter, and is the 
piincipal source of John's river. 
Pondicherry bay is about 200 rods 
wide and one hundred long. The 
name is derived from tliat of the 
mountain between Jefferson and 
Bretton-Woods. Mount Pliny 
lies in the easterly part of this 
town, and around its base there 
is excellent grazing and tillage 
land. On the S. W. side of this 
mountain are several fine farms, 
which command a most delightful 
view of the White Mountains. The 
W. part of the town is low, and 
too wet for cultivation. Israel's 
river passes through Jefferson from 
S. E. to N. W., and here receives 
a considerable branch. Jefferson 
was granted, under the name of 
Dartmouth, Oct. 3, 1765, to John 
Goffe ; and re-gvanted June 26, 

1772, to March H. WentvJiorth and 
Others. The town was first settled 
by Col. Joseph Whipple, Salnuel 
Hart and others about the year 

1773. It was incorporated Dec. ?>, 
1796, by the legislature oi' this state, 
and received its present name, in 
honor of the illustrious Jefferson. 
During the war of the revolution. 
Col. Whipple was here captured in 

P2 



his own house by a party of In- 
dians, headed by a white man. He 
requested and obtained leave to go 
into another room to change his ap- 
parel, and to take some necessary- 
articles for his march to Canada. 
Seizing the opportunity, he esca- 
ped from a back window, fled to 
the woods, where he eluded the 
search of his pursuers, and srfely 
arrived among other inhabitants. 
A Mr. Gotham, who then lived with 
the colonel, made his escape at the 
same time, and taking directly for 
the river, was fired upon while cros- 
sing it on a log ; the ball, however, 
did net reach him. The party plun- 
dered the house, and supplying 
themselves plentifully with provis- 
ions, departed without further out- 
rage. There are two school districts 
in this town. There is no settled 
minister, though a regular baptist 
church was sometime since formed 
and now exists. Pop. 252. 

John's PiIver, has its princi- 
pal source in Pondicherry, a pond 
of considerable magnitude in Jef- 
ferson. Its most southerly branch- 
es rise in Bretton-Woods, White- 
field and Daiton, and its northerly 
in Lancaster. These branches 
unite with the main stream in Dai- 
ton, which falls into the Connecti- 
cut about 60 rods above the head 
of the Fifteen-Mile falls — where its 
mouth is about 30 yards wide. This 
river, and Israel's, in Lancaster, 
derived their names from John and 
Israel Glines, two brothers, who 
hunted beaver and other animals 
on these rivers previous to the set- 
tlement of any part of the coun- 
ty- 

K. 

Kearsarge mountain, in the 
county of Hillsborough, is in lat. 
43° 22', and situated between the 
towns of Sutton and Salisbury, ex- 



166 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



tending into both towns. Tlie line 
between Wilmot and Warner pas 
ses over tlit- sumniit. Kearsarge is 
elevated 2461 feet above the level 
of the sea, and is the highest moun 
tain in Hillsborough county. Its 
summits are now a bare mass of 
granite, presenting an irregular and 
broken surface ; the sides are cover- 
ed wHh a thick growth of vi^ood. The 
prospect from this mountain is in a 
clear sky very wide and beautiful. 

Keene, a post-town, and the 
halfchire in Cheshire county,in lat. 
42° 57', is bounded N. by Surry 
and Gilsum, E. by Sullivan and 
Roxbury, S. by Swanzey, S. E. by 
Marlborough, W. by Chesterfiek. 
and Westmoreland, containing by 
charter six miles square. But its 
limits have been reduced by contri- 
butions to Sullivan and Roxbury. 
both receiving large tracts from this 
town. It is 80 miles from Bos- 
ton, 60 from Dartmouth College, 
43 from Windsor,40 from Amherst, 
and 55 from Concord. The soil 
consists of three kinds, viz. meadow 
or interval, light sandy plains, and 
upland. The latter lies on the out- 
skirts of the town, bounding on the 
E., W. and N. a flat or valley, con- 
sisting of the first and second 
kinds, and 3 miles in width and the 
same in extent from N. to S. This 
valley is divided in the centre by 
the Ashuelot river, and from the un- 
usual extent of level which it pre- 
sents, variegated by cultivation, af- 
fords a fine prospect to the traveller 
approaching it from the high land,by 
which it is surrounded. Ashuelot 
liver has its source in a pond in 
Washington, and discharges itself 
into the Connecticut at Hinsdale, 
20 miles distant from Keene. (^e 
Ashuelot river.) Keene has 
been called one of the "prettiest 
villages" in New-England ; and 
President Dwight in his travels, 



pronounces it one of the pleasant- 
est inland towns he had seen. The 
principal village is situated on a flat, 
E. of the Ashuelot, nearly equidist- 
ant from that and the upland. It 
contains the meeting house, court 
house, bank, post-office, and 120 
dwelling houses, besides a number 
of large stores and mechanic shops. 
It is particularly entitled to notice 
for the extent, width, and uniform 
level of its streets. The main 
street, extending one mile in a 
straight line, is almosfa perfect lev- 
el, and is well ornamented with 
trees. The buildings are good and 
well arranged. There is another 
village in the W, part of the town, 
containing a baptist meeting house 
and 15 or 20 dwelling houses. — 
Keene is a place of considerable 
business. It has an extensive 
bookstore and bindery, connected 
with a printing establishment; two 
glass factories established in 1814; 
and several stores unusually large 
for the country. The first newspa- 
per published here was the "New- 
Hampshire Recorder," by James 
D. Grifiith. It commenced in 1787; 
discontinued March 3,1791. "The 
Cheshire Advertiser" succeeded 
Jan. 1, 1792 ; was published one 
year,by Mr. Griffith. "The Colum- 
bian Informer," by Henry Blake, 
commenced April 3, 1793 ; was 
followed August, 1799, by ."The 
Rising Sun," published by C. Sturt- 
evant, jr. & Co. till August, 1798. 
The " New-Hampshire Sentinel," 
by John Prentiss, commenced 
n March, 17199, and next to the 
Gazette and Journal at Portsmouth, 
is the oldest paper in the State. — 
Keene was originally granted by 
Massachusetts. Its first settlement 
commenced about the year 1734,by 
Jeremiah Hall, Elisha Root, Nath- 
aniel Rockwood, Seth Heaton, Jo- 
siah Fisher, Nathan Blake and oth- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



1G7 



ers. Its original name was Upper 
Ashuelot. Il was incorporated 
with its present name, April 11 
1753, which is derived from an En 
glish nobleman, perhaps Sir Benja- 
min Keene, British minister ai 
Spain and contemporary with Gov 
B. Wentworth, who granted the 
charter. In 1736, the settlement 
had so increased that a meeting 
house was erected, and in two years 
after, a minister was settled. But 
the usual scourge, which attended 
the frontier settlements, visited this 
town. In 1745, the Indians killed 
Josiah Fisher, a deacon of the 
church ; in 1746, they attacked the 
fort, the only protection of the in 
habitants. They were howeve: 
discovered by Capt. Ephrain 
Dorman in season to prevent their 
taking it. He was attacked by two 
Indians, but defended himself suc- 
cessfully against them, and reached 
the fort. An action ensued, in 
which John Bullard was killed 
Mrs. M'Kenney, who being out ot 
the fort, was stabbed and died •, and 
Nathan Blake taken prisoner, car- 
ried to Canada, where he remained 
two years. Mr. Blake afterwards 
returned to Keene, where he lived 
till his death, in 1811, at the age of 
99 years and 5 months. When he 
was 94, he married a widow of 60. 
The Indians burnt all the buildings 
in the settlement, including the 
meeting house. The inhabitants 
continued in the fort until April 
1747, when the town was abandon- 
ed. In 1753, they returned, and 
recommenced their settlements. — 
In 1755, the Indians again attacked 
the fort. Their number was great, 
and the onset violent, but the vig- 
ilance and courage of Capt. Syms 
successfully defended it. After 
burning several buildings, killing 
cattle, &c. they withdrew. This 
was in June. In July, they again 



invaded the town, but with little 
success. The congregational church 
was formed Oct. 18, 1738. Rev. 
Jacob Bacon, a native of Wren- 
iham, Ms. who graduated at Har- 
vard college in 1731, was ordained 
when the church was gathered. He 
remained the minister until April, 
1747, when the settlement being 
broken up, he went to Plymouth. 
He died at Rowley in 1787, aged 
81. Rev. Ezra Carpenter, a grad- 
uate of Harvard college in 1720, 
was settled over Keene and Swan- 
zey, Oct. 4, 1753 ; continued his 
relation to Keene till 1760. Rev. 
Clement Sumner, who graduated 
at Yale college in 1758, was ordain- 
ed June 11, 1761 ; dismissed April 
30,1772. Rev. Aaron Hall,who grad- 
uated at Yale college in 1772, was 
ordained Feb. 19, 1778 ; died Aug, 
12, 1814 Rev. David Oliphant, 
ordained May 25, 1815; dismissed 
Dec. 1, 1817. Rev. Zedekiah S. 
Barstow, a graduate of Yale col- 
lege in 1813, was ordained July 1, 
1818. The church consists of near- 
ly 200 members. There have been 
1185 baptisms. A baptist church 
was formed in 1816. Rev. Ferris 
Moore was ordained over it, Dec, 
30,1819; dismissed March, 1821. 
Col. Isaac Wtman, an active and 
influential man, marched the Inst 
detachment of men from this town 
in the war of the revolution, and 
was present at the battle of Breed's 
Hill. Pop. 1895. 

Kensington, township, Rock- 
ingham CO., lat. 42° 47', is bound- 
ed N. by Exeter, E. by Hampton- 
Falls, S. by South-Hampton, W. by 
East-Kingston — and is 45 miles 
from Boston, 40 from Concord. It 
is nearly of a square form, and 
comprises 7,045 acres. This towE 
has no streams of any note ; its 
urface is pretty even. There is 
but one pond, and that is small, but 



168 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



deep and muddy. Kensington was 
settled at an early period, and was 
originally a part of Hampton, from 
which it was detached and incor- 
porated April 1, 1737. It contain- 
ed more inhabitants at the com- 
mencement of the revolution than 
it does at present. The congre- 
gational church was established 
about the year 1737. The pastors 
who have been successively settled 
over it, are Rev. Jeremiah Fogg, 
ordained Nov. 1737, and died Dec. 
1,1789; Rev. Napthali Shaw, or- 
dained Jan. 30, 1793, dismissed in 
1812; Rev. Nathaniel Kennedy, 
ordained Jan. 13, 1813, dismissed 
June, 1816. Beside the congrega- 
tionalists, tliere is a baptist society 
and some friends. There is a so- 
cial library, incorporated in 1798. 
The Rev. Timothy Hilliard, late 
pastor of the first church in Cam- 
bridge, was a native of this town, 
born in 1746. He graduated at Har- 
vard college, first settled at Barnsta- 
ble, and afterwards at Cambridge, 
where he died May 9, 1790. Po[). 
,709. 

KiLKENKY, Coos county, lat. 
44° 27', is an irregular township, 
bounded W. by Jefterson and Lan- 
caster, N. by Piercy, E. by Paiwls- 
burgh, Maynesborough and Du- 
rand, S. by ungranted land. It con- 
tains 15,906 acres. This place was 
granted to Jonathan Warner, Esq. 
and others June 4, 1774, and con- 
tains but 24 iniiabilants — they are 
poor, and for aught that appears to 
the contrary, must always remain 
90, as they may be deemed actual 
trespassers on that part of crea- 
tion, destined by its author for the 
residence of bears, wolves, moose, 
and other animals of the forest ! 
An exception, however, may pos 
sibly be made in favor of a narrow 
strip of land along the S. bounda- 
ry of the town. Pilot and Wil- 



lard's mountains, so called from a 
dog and his master, cover a consid- 
erable part of 'lis town. Willard, 
a hunter, had been lost two or three 
days on these mountains, on the E. 
side of which his camp was situa- 
ted. Each day, he observed, his 
dog Pilot left him, as he supposed, 
in pursuit of game ; but toward* 
night he would constantly return. 
Willard being on the second or 
third day nearly exhausted with 
fatigue and hunger, put himself un- 
der the guidance of his dog, who 
in a short time conducted him ia 
safety to his camp. 

Kingston, post-townShip, Rock- 
ingham county, is situated in lat. 
42° 55' 15", and bounded N. by 
Brentwood, E. by East-Kingston, 
S. by Newtown and Plaistow, W. 
by Hampstead and Hawke. It is dis- 
tant from Concord 37 miles,from Ex- 
eter 6, from Portsmouth 20; and 
contains 12,188 acres, of which 800 
are supposed to be water. There are-- 
several ponds in this town. The 
largest is Great pond, which lies on 
the W. of the village, and contains 
upwards of 300 acres, with an isl- 
and of 10 or 12 acres, covered 
with wood. Country pond, in 
the S. E. and partly in Newtown, 
contains about 200 acres, and has 
also an island of 6 or 8 acres cov- 
ered with wood. The other ponds 
are called Little, Moon, Long and 
Barberry ponds. Near the centre 
of the town is an extensive plain, 
on which is situated the principal 
village, the meeting-house, and the 
academy. There are no high hills 
in Kingston ; those called the Great 
hill andRockrimmon are the highest 
The former is on the post-road to 
Exeter ; the latter on the W. of 
the plain near Hawke line, and is 
a body of granite extending ever 
20 or 30 acres, mostly covered with 
soil and a growth of wood. On its 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



169 



W. side is an abrupt descent of| 
nearly 100 feet to the plain. The 
soil of Kingston is generally loamy 
bottomed on sand and gravel.though 
in some places clay predominates 
The plain is a rich loam and very 
fertile. The rocks are mostly gran 
ite, although green porphyry, and 
fragments of many other kind 
may be seen. No metallic ores 
have been discovered excepting 
iron, and that principally bog ore, 
foitnd in Great pond and the 
swamps. This was formerly wrought 
in considerable quantities, but with 
no great success. In some places 
red and yellow ochre have been 
found of a quality suitable for paint. 
The natural growth of wood was 
principally of the various kinds of 
oak and other hard timber, with ce 
dar in the swamps. The charter 
of Kingston was granted by Lt. 
governor Usher, Aug. 6, 1694, to 
James Prescott, Ebenezer Webster 
and others, from Hampton. The 
grant also comprehended what now 
forms the towns of East-Kingston, 
Hawke, and Sandown. Soon after 
the grant was made, the proprietors 
erected garrison houses on the 
plain, and commenced the cultiva- 
tion of their lands. They were 
discouraged, however, from the dan- 
gers and difficulties of the succeed- 
ing hostilities, and many of them 
returned home within two years. 
After the war closed, they renewed 
their enterprize, hut it was not un- 
til 1725, that they were able to pro- 
cure the settlement of a minister. 
Before the settlement of Hampton, 
the Indians resorted there for the 
■variety of fish found in the ponds. 
During the wars, they were ex- 
tremely troublesome to the inhabi- 
tants, and several were killed. In 
1707, Stephen and Jacob Oilman, 
brothers, were ambushed between 
Kingston and Exeter, but fortunate- 



ly escaped to the garrison. In 1712, 
Stephen Oilman and Ebenezer Ste- 
vens were wounded at Kingston, 
the former taken and put to death. 
Sept. 7, 1724, Jabez Colman and 
his son were killed while at work 
in their field. Four children were 
also taken, one escaped, and the 
others were afterwards redeemed. 
Many Indian implements, with 
some ancient French coin, have 
been ploughed up in the vicinity 
of the ponds, such as jasper and 
quartz arrow-heads, axes, gouges, 
and hammers of different kinds of 
stones. This town is generally 
healthy, though it has aftbrded no 
remarkable instances of longevity. 
Rev. Ward Clark was the first 
settled minister of Kingston, though 
religious services had been regular- 
ly performed for several years pre- 
vious to his settlement by Rev, 
Mr. Choate from Ipswich. Mr. 
Clark was ordained in 1725, and 
died in 1737, aged 34. He was 
succeeded by Rev. Joseph Se- 
combe, a learned divine, who died 
in 1760. In the year following. 
Rev. Amos Tappan was ordained ; 
he died in 1771. In 1776, Rev. 
Elihu Thayer, D. D. was installed, 
who preached until 1812, and died 
aged 65. Rev. John Turner, was 
installed over a new congregation- 
al society in 1818. Major Eben- 
ezer Steveas, one of the eafly 
settlers, was a very distinguished 
and useful citizen ; and such was 
his integrity and benevolence, that 
differences among the people were 
submitted to his decision with per- 
fect confidence. He sustained ma- 
ny important public functions, and 
discharged every duty with ability 
and faithfulness. His descendants 
now live in Kingston. This town 
was also the residence of the Hon, 
JosiAH Bartlett, one of the 
first worthies of the state, and asv 



17© 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



eminent physician. He commen- 
ced his practice in Kingston in 
1761, and soon acquired a reputa- 
tion for great skill, particularly in 
the treatment of the cynanche ma- 
ligna, or throat distemper, then so 
prevalent and mortal. His public 
career commenced in 1763, and 
from that time to his death he was 
an unwearied advocate and sup- 
porter of the liberties of America. 
He was for some time chief justice 
of the colony, afterwards president 
of the state, and the first governor 
onder its free constitution. He di- 
ed May 19, 1795, at the age of 65 
years. Pop. 847. 



Lamprey river rises on the W. 
of Saddleback mountain in North- 
wood. Taking a S. course it pas- 
ses into Deerfield and thence into 
Raymond, where it receives a W. 
branch from Candia. Taking a S. 
direction it receives the waters of 
Jones' pond in Raymond ; and 
thence, as it flows through Epping, 
the Patuckavvay river unites with 
it. In its course through Lee and 
Durham, it receives the waters of 
North, Little and Piscassick rivers, 
and meets the tide about 2 miles 
above the Great Bay. 

Lancaster, a post-town, in 
the county of Coos, is situated in 
lat. 44° 29', on the southeastern 
l^ank of Connecticut river, which 
forms and washes its N. W. boun 
dar}', a distance of ten miles. It is 
bounded S. VV. by Dalton, S. b\ 
Whitefiel ) and Jefferson, E. and N. 
E. by Kilkenny and Northumber- 
land ; and lies distant 110 miles W, 
from Portland, 130 N. from Ports 
mouth, 95 almost due N. from Con 
cord, and 75 above Dartmouth 
College — containing about 2?, 480 
acres. Besides the Connecticut, 
which is deep and about 22 rods in 



width while it passes through Lan- 
caster, tlie town is watered by Is- 
rael's river and several considera- 
ble brooks. Across this river a 
bridge and three dams are thrown; 
the waters from the last of which 
turn four grist and two saw-mills, 
three carding machines.and two ful- 
ling mills. There are several ponda 
in Lancaster, the largest of which 
is called Martin-meadow pond,from 
Martin, a hunter. This communi- 
cates with Little pond. The one 
covers perhaps 150, and the other 
40 acres ; and both are situated in 
the southern part of the town. Lan- 
caster is situated near lofty moun- 
tains, but is not itself mountainous. 
There are three hills in the S. part 
of the town, called Martin meadow 
Hills; and the land in the S. E.part 
lies too high up the mountains for 
cultivation. The soil along the 
Connecticut is alluvial, the mead- 
ows extending back nearly three- 
fourths of a mile ; and at the moutli 
of Israel's river much farther. To 
these succeed a border of white 
pine or spruce land, which is gener- 
ally level and productive when prop- 
erlycultivated. The next region was 
covered in its natural state with a 
thick growth of sugar maple,beech, 
bass, ash.and other deciduous forest 
trees. In many places, however, 
the spruce and tir abound, particu- 
larly in the low lands,with here and 
there a cedar swamp. The larch 
and mountain ash are not unknown 
to the inhabitants of Lancaster, as 
the one occupies considerable tracts 
lietween the mendows and the high 
lands, and the other is scattered a- 
mongtlie other timber and under- 
brush. The village, or most com- 
pact part of the town,lies on a street 
extending from the bridge across 
Israel's river northwardly. There 
is a considerable number of build- 
ings on the southerly side of the ri- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



171 



ver, and on that side stands the 
meeting-house. At the northerly 
end of tlie street stand the court- 
house and jail. Previous to their 
incorporation, Lancaster, Northum- 
berland and Stratford in this state, 
and Lunenburg,Guildhall and Maid- 
stone, Vt. were designated by the 
Indian name of C005, which signi- 
fies crooked, and was originally ap- 
plied to that part of theConnecticut 
on which tiiese towns are situated. 
Lancaster was granted to Capt. Da- 
vid Page and others, July 5, 1763. 
In the fall of that year, he, with 
his family, and Edward B,iCknam 
and Emmons Stockwell, moveti in- 
to the town. They w^re its first 
settlers, and suffered the hardships 
which always attend emierants to 
new countries. David Page, son 
of the gentleman first mention- 
ed, had marked a path throug*^? 
the woods from Haverhill to 
Lancaster, -^ distance of 43 mih s, 
in June of that year •, and thi.s 
path was followed by the fan>- 
ily in the month of September fol- 
lowing to Lancaster. At that time, 
there was not a single inhabitant on 
the whole route. The war of tl e 
revolution tended to retard the set- 
tlement of the town. Every per- 
son above Captain Stockwell's, be- 
fore mentioned as one of the first 
settlers, h ft the country, and fled 
for safety to the older settlements. 
He patriotically resolved to stay 
and abide the consequences ; and 
by his example induced several 
others to do likewise. After the 
war closed, the town settled wit! 
considerable rapidity, and has since 
gradually increased in wealth 
and population. The number of 
deaths in Lancaster, from Juh 
1794, to June 1814, was 121. In 
July 1794, about thirty years after 
the settlement of the place, a con- 
gregational church was gathered, 



and on the 18ih Sept. following. 
Rev. Joseph WiUfn-dwas installed 
as pastor. The town at that time 
contained thirty-six families. Be- 
sides his church and congregation, 
there is a regular baptist, and a 
methodist church in town : but no 
minister is settled over either. 
There are also christians of other 
denominations in town, but none 
who have regularly organized chur- 
ches, or places of public worship. 
Pop. 644. 

LAN DAFF, a township in Grafton 
county, in lat. 44° 7', is bounded 
N. E. by Concord and Franconia, 
E. by Lincoln, S. W. by Coventry, 
and W. by Bath, containing 29,200 
acres. Its distance fiom Haverhill 
Corner is about 12 miles, and from 
Concord 90 miles. Wild Amoiioo* 
suck river runs fvom S. E. to N. W. 
tbro(r)'j;h the S. part of the town and 
rieariy parallel the whole distance 
with the S. W. boundary line. — 
Tbrougi' the north-w»*sterly ex- 
tremity passes the Great Anionoo- 
si'ck liver. Landaff irountain in 
;e E. part. Cobble Hill in the cen- 
ire, and Bald hill in the W. are the 
principal elevations. The meeting 
house is near the N. W. part of the 
town. Tiie soil in some parts is ve- 
y fertile, and there is a number of 
good farms. Landaft' was granted 
Jan. 3, 1764, to James Avery and 
others, but the grantees not fulfil- 
ling the conditions of the charter, 
it was, agreeably to the usage then 
practised, declared by the goveinor 
and council to be forfeited. It was 
then granted to Dartmouth College; 
but after the revolution, the first 
grantees renewed their claim, al- 
leging that the adjudication of the 
forfeiture was irregular. One or 
two cases were tried by the proper 
judicature, and the lands awarded 
to the first proprietors. Its settle- 
ment had commenced under the 



172 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



patronage of the government of D. 
College, whicli was at considerable 
expense in building mills, opening 
Toads and clearing lands, when, by 
the decision of the proper tribunal, 
this institution was compelled to a- 
bandon all tr.eir improvements. - 
Subsequent giants to the college, 
however, in some measure made up 
their loss. A baptist church wan 
formed here in 17B8. There are 
freewill and methodist societies, 
which have occasional preaching. 
Pop. 769. 

Langdon, post-township, Chesh- 
ire CO., in lat. 43° 10', is bounded 
N. by Charlestown, E. by Acworth, 
S. by Alstead and Waipole, W. by 
Walpole and Charlestown, contain- 
ing 9,891 acres. It is 17 miles from 
Keene, 60 from Concord. The prin- 
cipal village is 3 miles E. from Con- 
necticut river, and 6 from Bellows 
Falls. The soil here is adapted to 
grain of various kinds, and flax. — 
The agricultural products in 1820, 
were 12,000 lbs. butter, 16,000 lbs. 
cheese, 46,000 lbs. beef, 65,000 lbs. 
pork, 6,200 lbs. flax, with 337 bbls. 
cider. Cheshire turnpike, leading 
from Charlestown to Keene, passes 
through Langdon. A considerable 
branch of Cold river passes S. W. 
through the whole extent of this 
town, and unites with the main 
branch near the S. line. Langdon, 
named in honor of the late Gov. 
Langdon, was incorporated Jan. 11, 
1787. Its settlement commenced 
by Seth Walker, in 1773; Nathan- 
iel Rice and Jonathan Willard, in 
1774. A congregational church w-as 
formed Nov. 8, 1792 ; and a univer- 
sal church April 5, 1805, over which 
Rev. Abner Kneeland was ordain- 
ed Oct. 30, 1805 ; dismissed in 1810. 
In 1817, Rev. Robert Bartlett com- 
menced preaching in this place. A 
new congregational church and so- 



ciety were formed in 1820. Pop. 
654. 

Lebanon, post town, in Graftom* 
county, on Connecticut river, in lat. 
43° 38', is bounded N. by Hanover, 
E. by Enfield, S. by Plainfield, W. 
by Hartford, Vt. containing 23,000 
acres. It is 4 miles S. of Dartm. 
College, 49 from Concord, 90 from 
Portsmouth, and 110 from Boston. 
Besides the Connecticut on its W. 
border, this town is watered bj 
Mascomy river, running from E. to 
W. through its centre, and afford- 
ing many valuable mill seats and a 
constant supply of water. Over this 
river, the 4th N. H. turnpike corpo- 
ration supports 5 bridges, and the 
town 4. The soil here is alluvial. 
Th» intervals on the Connecticut 
extend back from the river about 
half a mile. There are meadows or 
intervals on Mascomy river. To 
these succeed a border of white 
pine and oak. The next division is 
sugar maple, birch, beech, bass, ash, 
hemlock, &c. The mountain ash is 
found in almost all the hilly parts 
of the town. The principal village 
is situated on a plain near the cen- 
tral part, at the head of the falls of 
Mascomy river. It contains be- 
tween 40 and 50 families, has a 
meeting-house, 2 school-houses, 3 
stores, 2 taverns, and a number of 
mechanics. There is a social libra- 
ry containing upwards of 300 vols. 
The Croydon turnpike intersects the 
4th N. H. turnpike in this village. 
The former runs S. E. ; the latter 
from E. to W. There are falls in 
the Connecticut in this town, which 
have been locked and canalled by 
a company called the White River 
Company. Lyman's bridge con- 
nects this town with Hartford. Vt. 
A medicinal spring has lately been 
discorered. A lead mine has been 
opened, and there has been lately 
found on Enfield line, near the out- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



173 



let of the Great pond, a vein of iron 
ore, composed of the magnetic ox- 
ide, mixed with the pyrites. Leba- 
non was granted July 4, 1761, to 62 
proprietors, belonging to Norwich, 
Mansfield and Lebanon, Conn. The 
first settlers were William Downer, 
William Dana, Levi Hyde, Charles 
Hill, Silas Waterman, Nathaniel 
Porter, from the towns just men- 
tioned. It was the first town set- 
tled on Connecticut river to the N. 
of Charlestown. The first settlers 
were a hardy, brave people.tenacious 
of their principles ; many of them 
were men of strong minds, good 
habits, correct principles, and good 
common education. A congrega- 
tional church was formed in 1771. 
Rev. Isaiah Potter was installed in 
1772, and died in 1817. A baptist 
church was formed in 1782 by Rev 
Jedidiah Hibbard. A universalist 
society was formed in 1813. Thorn 
as Waterman, Esq., now a resident 
in town, was the first male child 
born in Lebanon. Pop. 1700. 

Lee, post-town, in the S. part ol 
Strafford countjs is in lat. 43° 7,' 
and bounded N. by Madbury, E. by 
Durham, S. by New-Market and 
Epping, W. by Nottingham and 
Harrington, and comprises an area 
of 11,625 acres, 300 of which are 
water. In the N. part of the town 
lies Wheelwright's pond, contain 
ing about 165 acres, and forming 
the principal source of Oyster river. 
This pond is remarkable for the sea 
or white perch formerly taken 
here by angling in large quantities 
weighing 2 and 3 lbs. From the N 
E. extremity of Epping, Lamprey 
river enters Lee, and aftera serpen 
tine course of about 7 miles, it pas 
ses into Durham. Other parts of 
he town are watered by Little, 
North, and Oyster rivers. There 
are in Lee 3 bridges over Lamprey 
river, 3 over Little, 2 over North, 



and 6 over Oyster rivers. The N. 
H. turnpike from Portsmouth to 
Concord, ;^asses over the N. part of 
the town ; and there are 40 miles, 
300 rods of public highway, mostly 
in good repair, supported by the in- 
habitants. Here is a woollen fac- 
tory, besides other mills and ma- 
chinery ; also a social library in- 
corporated in 1814, containing a- 
bout 100 volumes. The freewill 
baptists and friends have each a 
meeting-house. The first settled 
minister was Rev. Samuel Hutchins. 
Elders Elias Smith and Richard 
Martin, preached here subsequent- 
ly ; and Eld. John Osborne, is the 
present pastor. Lee was originally 
a part of Durham, and was incor- 
porated Jan. 16, 1766. Pop. 1224 
Lempster, post-township in 
Cheshire county ,in lat, 43° 14', is 
bounded N. by Unity,E. by Goshen 
and Washington, S. by Marlovv 
and W. by Acworth, containing 
21,410acres, It is 40 miles from 
Concord and 90 from Boston. The 
surface is, in general, uneven, ancj 
the eastern part is mountainous, it 
being the W, border of the height 
of land between Merrimack and 
Connecticut rivers. The soil is 
moist — and better suited for gra^ 
than for grain, The agricultural 
products in 1820 v.-ere 16,000 lbs. of 
butter, 25,000 lbs. of cheese, 55,000 
lbs. of beef, 61,000 lbs. of pork, 
2100 lbs. of flax, and 220 V-arrels of 
cider. The town is well watered, 
although its streams are small. One 
branch of Sugar river, and the S. 
and W. branches of Cold river 
afford conveniences for water ma- 
chinery. Near the W. boundary 
line is a pond 320 rods long and 80 
wide. Sand pond lies in this town 
and Marlow. It is 420 rods long, 
and 70 wide. Dodge's pond, near 
the centre of Lempster, contains 
about 50 acres. There is a factory 



174 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



for dressing cloth, one of the best 
in the county, which dresses about 
8000 yards of cloth annually. Here 
is a social library, containing about 
300 volumes. Lerapster was grant- 
ed by charter, October 5, 1761, to 
Richard Sparrow and 61 others. It 
was settled about 1770, by emi- 
grants from Connecticut. A con- 
gregational church was gathered in 
Nov. 1761, in which there have 
been 173 admissions and 614 bap- 
tisms. Rev. Elins Fisher was or- 
dained Sept. 26, 1787. There is a 
methodist society of about 30 mem- 
"bers. Pop. 950. 

Lime, a post township, Grafton 
CO., in lat. 43° 48', is hounded N. by 
Orford, E. by Dorchester, S. by 
Hanover, W. by Tlietford, Vt. con- 
taining 28,500 acres. It is 6 miles 
S. from Orford, and 54 miles from 
Concord. The soil here is similar 
to that of other towns on Connecti- 
cut river, v\«th this difference, that 
there is a less proportion of inter- 
val, and a less. difference between 
that directly adjoining the river 
and the other parts of the town. 
There are three small streams pas- 
sing through Lime and Emptying 
into Connecticut river. There are 
two small ponds, the largest of 
which is called Ports pond, lying 
W. of the turnpike and about one 
mile N. of the meeting-house. — 
There is a mountain, called Smart's 
mountaiti, lying in the N. E. part 
of the town. Near .the centre of 
Lime is the town-house, a large 
building, in which public business 
is transacted. There are 2 meeting 
houses, the congregational, built in 
1811, at an expense of $6000, ex- 
clusive of the bell, weighing 13 cwt. 
—the baptist, which is situated on 
the turnpike leading through this 
lovvn, and is 2 miles above the cen- 
tre village. There is a handsome 
'parsonage belonging to the congre- 



gational society. There is a social 
library of 300 volumes, incorporat- 
ed in Dec. 1797. The annual num- 
ber of deaths for 20 years past has 
varied from 12 to 32 — average 20 
per anriam. Lime was granted by 
charter, July 8, 1761, to Theodore 
Atkinson and others. It was settled 
May 20, 1764, by Walter Fairfield, 
John and William Sloan and others 
from Connecticut. It received its 
name from Lyme in that state. The 
difference of orthography is owing 
to the mis-spelling of the name in the 
charter. The congregational church 
was formed in 1772. Rev. William 
Conant was ordained in Dec. 1773; 
died March 8, 1810, aged 67. Rev. 
Nathl. Lambert was installed Jan. 
1811 ; dismissed Septem. 6, 1820. 
Rev. Baxter Perry was ordained 
Jan. 1821. There are 163 commu- 
nicants, of whom 78 were added to 
the church in one year. There is 
a baptist church which was formed 
in 1810. Capt. John Sloan and his 
wife, about 90 years of age each, 
were living in 1822. Hon. Jona- 
than Franklin, who has been 
a member of tlw3 council and rep- 
resentative in the legislature, has 
resided in this town 46 years. Pop. 
1824. 

Lincoln, a mountainous tow'n- 
ship in Grafton county, lat. 44<^ 4', 
is bounded N. by Francohia, S. by 
Peeling, E. by Thornton and un- 
granted lands, W. by Landaff, cOn- 
taining 32,456 acres, and is 70 mil^s 
N. from Concord. The middle 
branch of the Pemigewasset passes 
through nearly the centre of the 
tovi^n. It has its source in Ferrin's 
pond, in the S. part of Franoonia. 
There are several ponds, viz. Bog, 
Fish and Loon ponds. There are 
many elevations, of which Kins- 
man's mountain is the most consid- 
erable. In the N. part of the town 
are ijvo large gulfs, made by an es- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



17^ 



uaordinary discharge of water from 
the clouds in 1774. Tlie numerous! 
" slips," as they are called, from 
the mountain are worthy of no- 
tice. They coramence near the 
summit of the mountain, and pro 
ceed to its base, forcing a passage 
through all obstructions. The soil 
here iu many parts is unfit for cul 
tivation. The vegetable produc- 
tions are often injured or destroyed 
by frosts. Wild animals, such as 
bears, racoons, foxes, sables, otters, 
<ieer, &c. are very numerous. Lin 
coin was granted Jan. 31, 1764, to 
James Avery and others •, but its 
settlement did not commence till 
several years after the revolution. 
Instead of increasing, it rather de- 
creases in population, and has but 
20 or 30 inhabitants. 

Litchfield, in Hillsborough 
county, a small fertile township on 
the E. bank of Merrimack river, in 
lat. 42° 50', is bounded E. by Lon- 
donderry and Nottingham- West, S. 
by Nottingham- West, W. by Mer- 
rimack river.containing 8426 acres. 
It is 8 miles from Amherst, and 30 
from Concord. This town has an 
excellent soU, and produces in great 
abundance wheat, rye, corB, oats, 
&c. Its original growth of forest 
trees was oak, elm, birch, butternut, 
walnut, bass, thornbush, and some 
pine. Large quantities of lumber 
have been transported down the 
Merrimack to Ncwburyport, or 
through the Middlesex canal to 
Boston. There are two ferries, 
Thornton's, near the meeting-house, 
on the post road from Amherst toj 
Portsmouth ; and Read's, 3 miles a-j 
hove. Hers are 3 school districts ; I 
and a social library, containing 150 
volumes. Litchfield was taken from 
Dunstable and incorporated by the 
government of Mass. in 1734.' It 
was chartered by N. H., June 5th, 
1749. It was originally known by 



the Indian name of JVatticott, and 
by the English one of Brenton's 
Farm, being granted by the general 
court of Massachusetts as early as 
1656. The settlement commenced 
about 1720, by a few families from 
Billerica. Some of the early set- 
tlers were from Chelmsford. The 
congregational church was gather- 
ed, and Rev Joshua Tufts ordained 
in 1741 ; he was dismissed in 1744. 
Rev. Samuel Cotton, from Newton, 
was ordained in Feb. 1765 ; dismis- 
sed in 1784 ; died at Claremont iu 
1819. A church was formed in the 
presbyterian order in 1809, and 
Rev. Nathaniel Kennedy was set- 
led April 12. He was dismissed in 
April, 1812. Rev. Enoch Pilsbury 
was ordained Oct. 25, 1815 ; died 
Feb. 15, 1818, aged 30. The Hon. 
WysEMAiir Claoett closed his 
life in this town. He was a native 
of England, came to this country 
before the revolution can)menced, 
and sustained sereral important of- 
fices. He was attorney general ua- 
der the provincial and state govern- 
ments, and filled the office with dig- 
nity and honoA Pop. 465. 

Little-Harbor. See PortS' 
mouth. 

Littleton, post township, ia 
Grafton county, on Connecticut ri- 
ver, lat. 440 15', is bounded N. W. 
by Concord and Waterford, Vt., N. 
E. by Dalton, S. E. by Bethlehem. 
S. W, by Lyman, containing 26,009 
acres. Its extent on Connecticut 
river is about 14 miles. It is 18 
miles from Lancaster, 39 from Ply- 
mouth, 30 from Haverhill Corner, 
and 100 from Concord. Connecti- 
cut river, in passing down the rap- 
ids called Fifteen-Mile falls, ex- 
tending the whole length of Little- 
ton, runs in foaming waves for 
miles together, which jender it im- 
possible to ascend or descend with 
I boats in safety. There are 3 bridges 



176 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



over the Connecticut in Littleton. 
Amoftoosuck river w^aters the S. 
part, having on its banks small 
tracts of excellent interval. There 
is a pleasant village on this river in 
the S. part of the town. (See Glyn- 
ville) There is but one pond, situ- 
ated on the S. W. line and partly 
in Lyman, called Partridge pond. 
Raspberry, Black,Palmer's and Iron 
mountains are the most prominent 
elevations. They are covered prin- 
cipally with sugar raaple, beech, 
birch, bass, white ash, and in some 
places intermixed with red oak. 
Hemlock abounds in the S. W. part. 
Near Amonoosuck river, there is a 
mineral spring, the water of which 
is said to be similar to the Congress 
spring at Saratoga. The land com- 
prehending Littleton was first grant- 
ed Nov. 17, 1764, by the name of 
Chiswick. It was re-granted Jan. 
18, 1770, by the name of Apthorp, 
and contained by admeasurement 
40,850 acres, including the territory 
now composing Dalton. Nov. 4, 
1784, Apthorp was divided, and the 
towns of Littleton and Dalton in- 
corporated. The fi:st settlement 
was made about 50 years since by 
Capt. Nathan Caswell, who was in 
1822 living in Canada. The first 
child born in town was his son, who 
was named Apthorp. The congre- 
gational church was formed in 1803. 
Pop. 1096. 

Londonderry, post-township 
in Rockingham county, adjoining 
the E. line of the county of Hills- 
borough, is in lat. 42° 53', and boun- 
ded on the N. by Chester and Man- 
chester, W. by Manchester, Litch- 
field, and Nottingham-West, S. by 
Nottingham-West, Windham, and 
Salem, and E. by Atkinson, 
Hanrypstead, and Sandown. It orig- 
inally contained 64,000 acres, of 
which 20,000 are now included in 
The towns of Windham, Salem, 



Nottingham-West, and Manches- 
ter. A small but flourishing vil- 
lage is situated near the centre of 
the town on the Londonderry turn- 
pike, at the intersection of the 
northern and southern, eastern and 
western mail routes. Tiiis village 
is 15 miles N. W. from Haverhill, 
Mass. 35 from Portsmouth, ^8 N. 
W. from Boston, and 25 S. E. from 
Concord. The most considerable 
stream in this town is Beaver brook 
or river, issuing from Beaver pond, 
a beautiful body of water nearly 
circular in form and about 300 rods 
in diameter, about one mile N. E. 
from the village. Three miles N. 
W. from this pond, are three other 
small ponds, Scoby's, Upper, and 
Lower Shields' ; small streams is- 
suing from these unite and fall inta 
the Beaver brook, on which are ex- 
tensive and valuable meadows. 
Cobbet's pond in the S. part of this 
town, is one of the sources of the 
Spiggot river. The E. line of the 
town passes through Island pond, 
so called from its containing an isl- 
and constituting an extensive and 
valuable farm. Londonderry con- 
tains very little waste lllnd and it is 
believed, a more extensive body of 
fertile soil than any town in the E. 
section of the state. It contains 
no high hills or extensive plains, 
no morasses or stagnant waters of 
any considerable extent ; its sur- 
face consists of swells of moder- 
ate elevation, with intervening val- 
leys of no considerable breadth. 
Its healthfulness is indicated by 
the longevity of an unusual pro- 
portion of its inhabitants. The Lon- 
donderry turnpike from Concord to 
Boston, passes about 8 miles with- 
in the limits of this town. The 
Pinkerton academy, in an elevated 
and pleasant situation on the Lon- 
donderry turnpike, near the village, 
has productive funds to th« amount 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



177 



of ^14,000 ; the donation of Ma- 
jor John Pinkerton. The institu- 
tion has now a fair prospect of be- 
coming extensively useful. Lon- 
donderry was settled in 1719, by a 
colony of presbyterians, from the 
vicinity of the city of Londonder- 
ry, in the N. of Ireland, to which 
place their ancestors had emigrated 
about a century before from Scot- 
land. They were a part of 120 
families chiefly from three parishes, 
who with their religious instructors 
came to New-England in the sum- 
mer of 1718. In October, 1718, 
they applied to the government of 
Massachusetts for the grant of a 
township, and received assurances, 
that a grant should be made them, 
when they should select a place 
for its location. After some time 
spent in viewing tlie conntry, they 
selected the tract afterwards com- 
posing the town of Londonderry, 
at first known by the name of Mut- 
Jield. At this time it was supposed 
by them to be within the bounds of 
Massachusetts, the line between 
that state and the state of New- 
Hampshire . being then unsettled 
and in dispute. April II, 1719, six- 
teen families, accompanied by 
Rev. James McGregore, one of the 
clergymen who had emigrated from 
freland with them, took possession 
of the tract, and on the day of 
their arrival attended religious ser- 
vices and a sermon under an oak 
on the E. shore of Beaver pond. 
In the month of May following, 
and as early as the necessary ar- 
rangements could be iTiade, Mr.Mc- 
Gregore was regularly ordained 
their minister. The first summer 
all the settlers united in cultivating 
a field in common, the produce of 
which they amicably divided in au- 
tunm. Influenced by the opinion, 
that the best title to the soil in a 
mora) point of view must be that 
Q2 



derived by purchase from the ab 
original inhabitants, they in 1720 
purchased the title to the tract, 
which they had located from Col. 
John Wheelwright, whose ances- 
tor had purchased a tract, of which 
this was a part, from the tribes of 
Indians, who were its rightful pro- 
prietors. The inhabitants of Lon- 
donderry, although it was long a 
frontier town, were never molested 
by the Indians, The proprietors 
of Londonden»y, upon application 
to Gov. Shute and his council for 
New-Hampsiiire, received, on the 
first day of June, 1722, a grant of 
the tract of land they had located, 
and a charter of incorporation by 
the same instrument. This grant 
was made to 105 persons, and so 
rapid had been the settlement, that 
evid«nce exists to justify the belief, 
that there were at this time more 
than sixty families in the town. The 
early settlers of this town were in 
general farmers, possessing consid- 
erable information for their situa- 
tion in life, their ancestors having 
preserved the laudable custom of 
their Scottish progenitors in pro- 
curing for their children in- 
struction in all the brarxhes of 
learning then tauglu in common 
schools. None of them were ricli, 
but many of them brought to Lon- 
donderry property sufiicient to en- 
able them to make a rapid progress 
in the improvement of tiicir farms, 
and to acquire very early all the 
necessaries and even the conveni- 
ences and comforts of civilized life. 
Few or none of their number were 
indigent. They introduced with 
them the culture of the potatoe, a 
vegetable till then unknov/n in New- 
England ; and the manufacture of 
linen cloth, which, though long 
since declined, v.-as fv>r many 5'ears 
a considerable source of their early 
•prosperity. Milis vvtre erected 



178 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



immediately upon their first settle- 
ment, and within the first year a 
conv-enient dwelling-house, two 
stories high was built for their min 
ister. This house, the timber of 
which is entirely sound and the 
house in good repair, is now occu- 
pied by John Morrison, Esq., a de- 
scendant of one of the early set- 
tlers. Within two years from the 
first settlement, a meeting-house 
was erected, and within six years 
it appears, that four schools were 
kept in the town during half the 
year. Conclusive evidence of the 
rapid progress of the town exists 
in the fact, that within nine years 
from its first settlement, it paid 
more than one fifteenth part of the 
state tax although the old and then 
extensive towns of Portsmouth, 
Dover, Exeter, and Hampton had 
been settled more than a century, 
and several other towns had been 
long settled. Within five years 
Irom the settlement of the town, 
Mr. McGregore's church consisted 
of 230 members. Mr. McGregore 
died March 5, 1729, at the Jige of 
52 years; he was distinguished for 
talents, a sound judgment, and 
great prudence, and was eminently 
useful to the town in regard to its 
civil concerns, as well as by the 
discharge of his professional 
duties. He was succeeded by 
Pi-ev. Matthew Clark a native of 
Ireland,' who had in early life been 
an officer in the army and distin- 
guished himself in the defence of 
the city of Londondwry, when be- 
sieged by the army of King James 
II. A. D. 1688-9. He afterwards 
relinquished a military life for the 
clerical profession. He possessed 
a strong mind, marked by a consid- 
erable degree of eccentricity. He 
died Jan. 25, 1735, and was borne 
to the grave at his particular re- 
quest by his former companions in 



arms, of whom there uere a con- 
siderable number among the early 
settlers of this town ; several of 
whom had been made free from tax- 
es, throughout the British domin- 
ions by King William.for their bra- 
very in that memorable siege. In 
1733, Rev. Thomas Thompson, a 
native of Ireland, was ordained as 
the colleague of Mr. Clark, and 
died Sept. 22, 1798, aged 38. The 
Rev. William Davidson, a native 
of Ireland, succeeded him in 1739; 
and continued in the ministerial 
office till his death, Feb. 15, 1791, 
at the age of 79 years. In 1795, 
he was succeeded by Rev. Jona- 
than Brown, who was in 1804, dis- 
missed at his own request. Sep- 
tember 12, 1810, Rev. Edward L. 
Parker, the present minister of 
the original, or east parish, was 
settled. In 1735, the town voted, 
that the inhabitants of the W. part 
of the town should become a sep- 
arate parish ; and in 1737, this 
parish settled Rev. David McGreg- 
ore, a son of the first minister of 
the town. In 1 739, the parish was 
incorporated. Mr. McGregore di- 
ed May 30, 1777, at the age of 67 
years : he was a man eminent for 
piety, talents, eloquence, and de- 
votion to the cause of civil liberty. 
He was succeeded in 1783 by Wil- 
liam Morrison, D. D. a native of 
Scotland, distinguished for his pie- 
ty, talents, and liberality of mind. 
Dr. Morrison died March 9, 1818, 
at the age of 70, and was succeed- 
ed Jan. 16, 1822, by Daniel Dana, 
D. D. The two parishes possess 
funds to nearly the amount of 
<^0,000, principally of the dona- 
tion of Maj. John Pinkerton, the 
same benevolent individual, who 
endowed the academy designated 
by his name. This worthy man, 
whose name and character deserve 
to be held in veneration, came from 



NEW-HAMPfeHIRE GAZETTEER. 



17§ 



Ireland to Londonderry with his 
parents in infancy. He was through 
life distinguished for a laudable 
economy and persevering industry, 
and not less so for his charity to the 
poor and unfortunate. He died in 
1818, at the age of 81. There 
have been in this town many re- 
markable instances of longevity. 
Of its early settlers and their chil- 
dren, born within 20 years after the 
first settlement of the town, more 
than 100 persons are known to 
have reached the age of 80 years 
and upwards. Of this number 25 
are known to have been more than 
90 years of age ; six of the natives 
of this town, above the age of 90 
are now living. One individual, 
William Scoby, died at the age of 
110, and when 100 years old,lravel- 
led on foot to Portsmouth, more 
than 35 miles in one day. A com- 
pany of 70 men from this town, 
under the com.mand of Capt. George 
Reid, were in the battle of Breed's 
hill, and about the same number 
were in that at Bennington, in 
which Capt. David M'Clary one of 
their citizens, a distinguished and 
brave officer, was killed. Thirt}-- 
one of the natives of this towii 
have received a collegiate educa- 
tion, ©f whom twenty-two are now 
alive. Of tliis number 12 have 
entered the professioH of divinity, 
and 10 that of the law. Of the 
natives of this town, who have sus- 
tained public offices, military and 
civil, are Maj. Gen. John Stark and 
Col. George Reid, officers of the 
army of the revolution. Joseph 
M'Keen, D. D. first president of 
Bowdoin college ; Arthur Liver- 
more, Jonathan Steele, and Samu- 
el. Bell, judges of the superior 
court ; the latter of v/hom, from 
1819 to 1823, was governor of this 
state and discharged the duties of 
that station to the universal satis- 



faction of the people. He is now 
senator in Congress. Robert Wal- 
lace and Hugh Ramsay, judges of 
the court of common pleas ; George 
Reid, sheriff of the county of Rock- 
ingliam. Amongst the descendants 
of the early settlers, are Jeremiah 
Smith, late chief justice of the su- 
perior court; Gen. James Miller, 
and Col. John M'Neil, distinguish- 
ed officers in the late war with 
Great Britain. Amongst those, 
who, though not natives, were in- 
habitants from early life, are Mat- 
thew Thornton, a delegate from 
New-Hampshire, to Congress, and 
one of the signers of the Declara- 
tion of Independence, and one of 
the first judges of the superior court 
after the commencement of the 
revolution ; and John Prentice, for 
several years attorney general of 
the state. Pop. 3127. 

Long Bay, at the head of Win- 
nepisiogee river, lies between Gil- 
ford and Meredith. The waters of 
the lake Winnepisiogee pass 
through this bay into the river of 
that name. 

Loudon, post-town, Rocking- 
ham county, lat. 43° 19', is bound- 
ed N. W. by Canterbury, N. E. 
by Gilmanton, S. E. by Pittsfieid 
and Chichester, S. W. by Concord, 
and contains 28,257 acres. Sou- 
cook river passes from Gilmanton 
S. through Loudon, furnishing val- 
uable mill privileges. There is 
some good interval on its borders. 
The soil is various — the natural 
growth in the E. part of the towii 
sugar maple and beech ; in the S. 
and W. pine, oak and chesnut, 
Soucook village, the seat of the 
principal business in town, is i» 
the S. part of the town on a pleas- 
ant site E. of the river ; it contains 
40 buildings, and is 4 miles from 
the centre meeting-house. Loudon 
was originally a part of Canterbu- 



180 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



ry ; was incorporated Jan. 23,1773, 
and the first town meeting was liol- 
den March 23, same year. Settle- 
ments had been made in 1760, by 
Abraham and Jethro Bachelder and 
Moses Ordway. A congregation- 
al church was formed in 1784 ; and 
in 1789, Rev. Jedidiah Tucker was 
ordained. He was dismissed in 
1810, and died in 1818, aged 57. 
Rev. Enoch Corser was ordained 
in 1816. There is also a freewill 
baptist society in Loudon. Pop. 
1694. 

Lovewell's Pond. See Wake- 
Jield. 

Lymak, a township on Connec- 
ticut river, in Grafton county, in 
lat. 44° 15', is bounded N. W. by 
Barnet, Vt. N. E. by Littleton, 
S. E. by Concord, in Grafton coun- 
ty, and W. by Bath. It is 13 miles 
above Haverhill, 90 miles from 
Concord, and 155 from Boston. 
The soil . and productions are 
similar to those on Connecticut 
iriver in the N. part of the state. 
Pine and hemlock are among the 
prerailing forest trees. There is one 
considerable elevation, called on 
the Map of N. H., Gardner's moun- 
tain, but generally known fay the 
name of Lyman's mountain. It is 
in fact a continuation of Gardner's 
mountain, which extends from 
Bath through this town in nearly a 
N. and S. direction. The N. W. 
branch of Burnfeam's river has its 
source from this mountain. The 
N. E. branch comes from Partridge 
pond in Littleton and this town. 
There are several ponds in the 
E. part of Lyman, through the 
largest of which, Burnham's river 
has its course. The lower bar of 
the Fifteen-Mile falls is in this 
town. Carleton's falls "are several 
miles below, and below these is Ste- 
vens' ferrj', which communicates 
with Bamet. it is said thitt cop- 



per and emery, intermixed with 
iron ore, have been found here. 
Lyman was granted Nov. 10, 1761, 
to a number of proprietors,of whom 
was Daniel Lyman, from whom 
it probably received its name. Of 
the three first families who settled 
here, there were 20 sons, of whom 
19 were living a few years since. 
Seventeen of them lived in Ly- 
man. The spotted fever in 1812» 
attacked 70 persons, of whom only 
one died. Pop. 1270. 

Lyme. See Lime. 

LYNDEBOROUGH.post-townshi p 
in Hillsborough county, in lat. 42'' 
53', is bounded N. by Francestown, 
E. by N. Boston and Mont- Vernon, 
S. by Milford and Wilton, and W. 
by Temple and Greenfie]d,contain- 
ing 20,767 acres. It is 10 miles 
from Amherst,and 35 from Concord; 
— It is an elevated township, 
having a considerable mountain 
which divides it from E. to W. — 
There is, in the N. E. part of the 
town, below the mountain, a plain, 
over which the 2d N. H. turnpike 
passes, where there is a small vil- 
lage, pleasantly situated near Pis* 
cataquog river. The soil of this 
town, though stony, is deep and 
strong. For grazing it ife, perhaps, 
not exceeded by any town in the 
county. The sti'eams are small, 
originating principally from sourc- 
es in the town, and running N. a«iQ 
S. from the mountain. There is 
one small natural pond, not far 
from the meeting-house, which 
stands on an eligible spot S. of the 
mountain. There is a small foun- 
dry for casting articles of hol- 
lov/ ware. There is a social 
library containing from 200 to 300 
volumes. One native, Caleb Hus- 
ton, has received a collegiate edu- 
cation — graduated at Williams' 
college in 1812. Lyndeborough 
was originally granted by Mass»« 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



l«l 



chusetts to Capt. Samuel King and 
59 others, who went on the Canada 
expedition in 1690. From tl)is cir- 
cumstance and from some of the 
proprietors belonging to Salem, it 
was called Salem- Canada. In 1753, 
Benjamin Lynde, Esq. of Salem, 
purchased a considerable part of 
the townsiiij), and adjoining lands. 
F'rom him, tlie place, when it was 
incorporated, April 23, 1764, took 
the name of Lj-ndeborough. It was 
settled as early as 1750. The ear- 
liest names were Putnam, Cham- 
berlain and Cra.m, who emigrated 
from Massachusetts. The congre- 
gational church was founded in 
1757. Rev. John Rand, wiio grad- 
uated at Harvard college in 1748, 
was ordained Dec. 3, 1757 ; dismis- 
sed April 8, 1762. Rev. Sewall 
Goodrich, who graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1764, was ordained 
Sept. 7, 1768 ; died in March 1809. 
Rev. A'^athaniel Merrill, a gradu- 
ate of Dartmouth college in 1809, 
was ordained Oct. SO, 1811. On 
the 15th Nov. 1809, three children 
were burnt in a barn, while their 
parents were attending an installa- 
tion at Mont- Vernon. In the winter 
of 1812, the spotted fever prevailed 
here, of whicli 13 persons died witii- 
in about as many days. The num- 
ber of deaths for the last 10 years 
has been 160. Pop. 1200. 

M. i 

Mad river rises among the moun- 
tains in the ungranted lands of 
Grafton county, about 10 miles N. 
of Sandwich. Talking a S. W. 
course, it crosses the S. E. extrem- 
ity of Thoraton, and falls into the 
Pemigewasset river near tlie centre 
of Campton. 

Madbxjry, Strafford county, lat. 
43° 10', is a small township of about 
12 square miles, bounded N, E. byh 



Dover, S. W. by Durham and Lee, 
N. W. by Barrington. Its greatest 
length is about 7 miles, the extreme 
easterly point extending to the tide 
water of a branch of the Pascataqua, 
about 5 miles above Portsmouth. 
The soil of tlxis town is generally 
productive. The valleys consist of 
a proportion of clay, and the high- 
er lands are a mixture of sand and 
loam, with very few stones. In 
some parts of the town, bog iron 
ore has been dug up in considera- 
ble quantities, and in some instan- 
ces red and yellow ochre. Bella- 
my bank river is the only stream of 
any magnitude, and Barbadoes 
pond the only considerable body 
of water. This pond lies between 
Dover and Madbury, and is 120 
rods long, 50 wide. Madbury for- 
merly constituted a part of the an- 
cient town o{ Dover ; but was set 
off and incorporated May 31, 1755, 
by the present name. No church 
can with propriety be said to have 
been established. In 1758, Rev. 
Samuel Hyde commenced preach- 
ing, and continued until 1770, but 
no regular church was organized. 
Rev. Elipiiaz Chapman officiated 
from 1771 until 1773; when Eld. 
William Hooper, a baptist, former- 
ly of Berwick, commenced preach- 
ing and continued several years. 
There is one meeting-house in Mad- 
bury, but no settled minister. There 
are a considerable number of 
friends in this town belonging to 
the society at Dover. The inhabi- 
tants are mostly industrious agri- 
culturalists ; and as there are nei- 
ther stores or taverns in town, in- 
temperance is not frequent among 
them. Pop, 559. 

Manchester, a township, in 
Hillsborough county, lies on the E. 
side of ^Jerrimack river, by which 
it is bounded on the W. for 8 mile.<!, 
in lat. 420 5i'. Oa tiie N. and E: 



182 



NEW-HAMPSPIIRE GAZETTEER. 



it is bounded by Chester, S.by Lon- 
donderry and Litchiield. It con- 
taius an area of 15,671 acres. 
There are several streams which 
have their origin in this town, and 
which discharge themselves into 
the Merrimack. — Cphass brook, is- 
suing from Massabesick pond, is 
the largest. It receives two other 
small streams from the S. and emp- 
ties itself at the S. W. angle of the 
town. Massabesick is a large pond 
at the E. side of the town, and part 
ly within its limits. Alewives pass 
from the Merrimack into this pond, 
by tlie Cohass brook, the main out- 
let to the pond. There are several 
smaller ponds abounding with pick- 
erel and other fish. The soil 
of a considerable part of the town 
is light and sandy, originally cover- 
ed with a thick growth of pine 
wood. In other parts it is fertile, 
and is wooded with oak, walnut and 
maple. The intervals on the river 
are easy of cultivation and produc- 
tive. The canal by Amoskeag 
Falls is in this town, and was pro- 
jected and constructed by th»3 inge- 
nuity and perseverance of the late 
Samuel Blodget, Esq. It is a work 
of great public utility. The fall is 
about 45 feet perpendicular mea- 
surement ; and the whole extent, 
including the channels and dams 
which form the upper entrance, 
down to the four locks at the lov/er 
end, is nearly one mile. It was 
completed in 1816, in the most sub- 
stantial manner, at an expense of 
$G0,000, though a much greater 
sum had been originally laid out. 
It has the business that goes by 
rafting to Newburyport as well as 
Boston. The falls may not be con- 
sidered among the least natural cu- 
riosities. The river is widened to 
three times its general width and 
is divided into several different 
sireams by several small islands. 



The water rushes through the vari- 
ous channels over a ragged bottom 
with great velocity, and the sound 
it produces is heard for several 
miles. At the upper part, near the 
greatest fall, circular holes of vari- 
ous sizes have been worn perpen- 
dicularly into the solid rock sever- 
al feet, some of which holes are 
more than eight feet diameter. 
Here, it is said, the Indians in time 
of war concealed their provisions. 
At these fails in the months of May, 
June and July are caught salmon, 
shad and other fish, but, on account 
of the obstructions in the river, 
not in such abundance as formerljr. 
The facility of procuring fish, it is 
higldy probable, drew the attentioa 
of the natives to this place, as ap- 
pearances indicate its having been 
thickly peopled by them. Various 
kinds of tools constructed of stone, 
such as axes, chisels, arrow-heads, 
&c. are frequently found in the 
earth near these falls ; humax bones 
have also been discovered — all 
which render it highly probable that 
this was an ihiportant spot to the 
aboriginals. This town was form- 
ed of a part of Londonderry, a part 
of Chester, and a tract of land cal- 
led Harrytown, and incorporated 
Sept. 3, 1751, by the name of Der- 
ryjield. This name it retained un- 
til 1810, when it was changed to 
Manchester by an act of the leg- 
islature. The venerable Gen. 
John Stark had his residence in 
this town, where he died May 8, 
1822, at the great age of 93 years 
8 months and 24 days. He was 
born at Londonderry, August 28, 
1728; was taken prisoner by the 
Indians, while hunting near Baker's 
river, in Runmey, April 28, 1752. 
In 1775, he was appointed a colonel 
of one of the three regiments raid- 
ed in N. H. — was engaged on th^ 
heights of €barlesto\vn, June 17,— 



NEW-HAMPSrtlRE GAZETTEER. 



183 



was at the battle of Trenton in 
1776 — captured Col. Baum and 
1000 of the British at Bennington, 
Aug. 16, 1777. This event, in the 
language of President Jefferson, 
was "tlie first link in the chain 
ef successes which issued in the 
surrender of Saratoga." He wa? 
sooti after appointed a brigadier 
general of the U. S. army, and, at 
the time of his death, was the only 
surviving American general officer 
of the revolution. The Marquis 
De la Fayette,was appointed a ma- 
jor general by Gen. Washington, 
and he is still living in France, at 
the age of 65. For a memoir of 
Gen. Stark, see Hist. Coll. for 
1822, p. 92—116. Pop. 761. 

MargallawAY river has its 
source among the highlands, which 
separate Maine from Lower Cana- 
da, in the N. E. extremity of New- 
Hampshire, about 30 miles N. from 
Errol. After a S. course of nearly 
**20 miles on the western border of 
Maine, it enters New-Hampshire 
at the S. E. part of the 2d grant to 
Dartrtiouth college, where it forms 
a junction with the united streams 
of Dead and Diamond rivers.— 
Thence after a S. course of about 
6 miles to Errol it receives the wa- 
ters of Umbagog lake. After this 
junction the main stream is the Am- 
eriscoggin river. 

Marlborottgh, a post-town 
ship in Cheshire county, in lat. 42° 
52', is bounded N. by Roxbury, E 
by Dublin ancl Jaffrey, S. by Troy, 
W. by Swanzey and part of Keene 
Before the incorporation of Troy 
principally taken from this town, it 
contained 20,740 acres. It is 6 miles 
from Keene, 55 from Concord, and 
76 from Boston. There are sever 
al ponds which are the sources of 
some of the blanches of Ashue- 
lot river. The soil is rocky, suita 
"ble for grain and flax, and particu- 



larly for grass. The 3d N. H. tsm 
i>ike and the Fitzwilliam Branch 
turnpike pass through this town. 
The annual number of deaths for 
the last 25 years has averaged 
about 13. Marlborough was grant- 
ed by charter, April 29, 1751, to 
Timothy D wight, Esq. and 61 oth- 
ers. The conditions of the grant 
not being seasonably complied with 
on account of the Indian and 
French war, the claims of forfeit- 
ure incurred by the grantees was 
suspended by another charter, 
Sept. 21, 17>.4. The first settle- 
oient commenced about 1760, by a 
Mc.AJistei, William Barker, Abel 
Woodward, Be«j. Tucker and Dan- 
iel Goodenough. The town was 
ucorporated Dec. 13, 1776. A 
congregational church was founded 
in 1778, and Rev, Joseph Cum- 
mings was ordained in Nov. the 
same year. He was dismissed in 
Dec. 1780. He graduated at Har- 
vard College in 1768. Rev. Hollo- 
way Fish was ordained Sept. 25, 
1793. Lt. Col. Andrew Colbum, 
an officer killed in the revolutiona- 
ry war, belonged to this town. 
Pop. 766. 

Marlow, post-township, in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 43° 1', is 
bounded N. by Acworth and Lemp- 
ster, E. by Washington and Stod- 
dard, S. by Gilsum, W. byAlstead, 
containing 15,937 acres. It is 15 
miles from Keene, and 45 from 
Concord. Ashuelot river passes 
through almost the whole length of 
the town. There are no ponds of 
note, nor any mountains. The 
soil is rather wet, but considerably 
productive. There are large tracts 
of meadow land on Ashuelot river 
and other streams, of an excellent 
quality. The land is generally un- 
even, but not very rocky. It pro- 
duces the various kinds of grain — 
is also very favorable for flax and 



184 



NEW HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



potatoes. The agricultural prod- 
ucts in 1820, were 14,400 lbs. of 
butter, 21,000 lbs of cheese, 40,000 
lbs. of beef, 44,000 lbs. of pork, 
3,400 lbs. of flax, with 150 barrels 
of cider ; also 5 tons of pearl-ashes. 
Marlow was chartered Oct. 7, 1761, 
to William Noyes and 69 others, 
residing principally in Lime, Conn. 
The first settlers were Joseph 
Tubbs, Samuel and John Giistin, 
N. Royce, N. Miller, Nathan Hunt- 
ley, Solomon Mack, Solomon Gee, 
Eber Lewis and others. The first 
town meeting was in March, 1766. 
In 1772, there were 29 families. — 
The first inhabitants were baptists. 
They soon formed a baptist church 
and in Jan. 1778, settled Rev. Ca- 
leb Blood, who was dismissed March 
9, 1779. Rev. Eleazar Beckwith 
"Succeeded, and preached till his 
death in 1809. There is a method- 
ist society, over which Rev. Paul 
Dustiu was settled by a vote of the 
town, May 12,1807. He died Feb. 
15,1811. Tliere is also a society 
of iiniversalists. Pop. 597. 

Mascomy, a river in Grafton 
county, rises S. of Smart's moun- 
tain, lying in Lime and the N. W 
part of Dorchester. It has a S 
course through Dame's Gore to 
Canaan, where it receives the 
waters of G(*ose pond and Heart 
pond, and also its E. branch. It 
proceeds to Enfield, receiving the 
waters of several ponds, and there 
empties itself into Mascomy pond. 
The outlet of this pond is at its W. 
extremity in Lebanon, where it 
becomes a considerable stream, 
which after a course of 7 miles, 
falls into the Connecticut r'ver a 
few miles below Lyman's bridge. 
See Enfield. 

MASC03IT pond lies principally 
ii» Enfield and partly in Lebanon. 
It contains a surface of between 
2000 and 3000 acres. Su Enfield. 



Massabesick, a pond. Set 
Chester. 

Mason, a township in Hillsbo- 
rough county, in lat. 42° 45', is 
bounded N. by Temple and Wil- 
ton, E. by Milford and Brookline, 
S. by Townsend and Ashbyin Ms., 
and W. by New-Ipswich, contain- 
ing 18,860 acres. It is 15 miles 
from Amherst, 43 front Concord and 
60 from Boston. The surface is 
uneven; the hills are chiefly large 
swells, with narrow valleys betweea 
them. The streams , are rapid. 
There are no natural ponds. The 
principal meadows were formerly 
beaver ponds. Souhegan is the 
principal stream affording many 
fine mill seats. The small streams 
run into Nashua river and into Ta- 
napus or Potanipo pond in Brook- 
line. The soil in the E. part is 
rather light — the forest trees,white, 
red and yellow oak, walnut, pine 
and chesnut. The W. part is 
mostly a strong deep soil, red or» 
dark loam, but stony. It is good 
for grass and grain.' The natural 
growth, red oak, hemlock, beech, 
maple, birch, &c. The soil »f the 
high lands was greatly injured by 
fires in the forests previous to its 
settlement. The 3d N. H. turn- 
pike passes through the S. W. part 
of this town about 3 miles. In 
Souhegan village, there is a cotton 
factory in 2 large buildings,one con- 
taining 500 spindles, with the ne- 
cessary apparatus for carding and 
spinning, including a* double speed- 
er ; in the other building are IB 
power looms. There is also a 
large woollen factory, containing 
5 sets of cards, a spinning machine 
known by the name of a Brewster, 
4 power looms for satlinett, and 6 
broad looms, which can turn out 
20 yards of broad cloth per day. 
There is also in this tovm a starch 
manufactory, which manufactures 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



185 



4000 or 5000 bushels of potatoes 
into starch, per annum. In 1820, 
30,000 lbs. and in 1821, 26,000 lbs. 
of this useful article were manu- 
factured. Eight pounds of starch 
can be made from one bushel of 
potatoes. Mason was granted by 
charter, Aug. 26, 1768. It was 
formerly known by the name of 
JVb. 1. The first effort to settle 
this place was in 1751, and the 
next year a permanent settlement 
was made by Enoch Lawrence, 
from Pepperell, Ms. Deac. Nathan 
Hall, who died May 7, 1807, aged 
92, was an early settler. Jonathan 
Foster, another early inhabitant, 
lived to exceed 100 years. The 
congregational church was formed 
in 1772, and consisted of 12 males 
and 9 females. Rev. Jonathan 
Searle was ordained Oct. 14, 1772 ; 
dismissed about 1782. Bev. Eben- 
ezer Hill, who graduated at Har- 
vard college in 1786, was ordained 
in 1790. A baptist church was con- 
stituted in 1786, and Rev. William 
Eliot was ordained their pastor. 
Pop. 1300. 

MayneSborough, an uninhab- 
ited township in Coos county, lat. 
440 27/, is bounded N. by Pauls- 
burgh, E. by Success, S. by Shel- 
burne and Durand, W. by Kilken- 
ny. It is 125 miles from Concord; 
contains 31,154 acres; and was 
granted Dec. 31, 1771, to Sir Wil- 
liam Mayne, bart., Robert, Thomas 
and Edward Mayne and others, of 
Barbadoes. The Ameriscoggin pas- 
ses through the E. part of this 
town, and the Upper Amonoosuck 
through the W. 

Meredith, a post-town, in 
Siraflford county, in lat. 43° 36', is 
bounded N. by Centre-Harbor and 
Winnepisiogee lake, N. E. and E. 
by said lake and river, S E. by 
Great bay, S. and S. W. by San- 
bornton, W. and N. W. by Nevr- 
R 



Hampton and Centre-Harbqr. This 
town was incorporated Dec. 30, 
1768, and was first called JVew-Sa- 
km. It lies distant from Concord 
about 29 miles ; from Portsmouth, 
63 miles; and from Washington 
city, 531 miles. Meredith contains 
2 post-offices, 4 houses for public 
worship, 13 school houses, 2 distil- 
leries, and a convenient number 
of mills and machines. There is 
in this town a pond adjoining Cen- 
tre-Harbor, about 2 miles long and 
1 wide, emptying into Great bay, 
near the village ; besides this there 
are several smaller ponds. There 
is probably no town in the country 
more pleasantly and advantageous- 
ly situated, or of a better soil, than 
Meredith. The waters of the Win- 
nepisiogee washing the boundaries 
of a great part of the town, convey 
many heavy mercantile articles to, 
and from almost the doors of sev- 
eral of the inhabitants in the sum- 
mer ; and in the winter, the ice 
serves as a level and easy road. 
Near the upper or N. W. part of the 
town, the traveller passing along 
the road, is presented with a very 
beautiful landscape. On the E. and 
S. E. the placid Winnepisiogee, the 
largest lake in New-Hampshire, 
with its numerous islands, arrests 
the eye, and bounds the circle of 
vision in a S. E. direction. On 
the N. E. Ossipee mountain rises 
boldly to view. On the N.,the 
prospect is intercepted by Red hiil, 
a pleasant and noted emisence in 
Moultonborough, only a few miles 
distant. At Meredith Bridge is a 
handsome and flourishing village, 
and the seat of much business. It 
is connected with the principal vil- 
lage of Gilford by abridge over th^ 
Winnepisiogee. There are socie-* 
ties of congregationalists and bap- 
tists in this town, the former under 
the care of Rev. David Smith i 



1«6 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



the latter in charge of Elder Par- 
ker Fogg. Hon. Ebene^er 
Smith, moved into this town at an 
early period of its settlement, and 
was as a father to the new settlers 
for many years. He was for ttiany 
years a justice of the peace, and 
judge of probate ; and for two years 
president of the senate. He died 
at Meredith, Aug. 22, 1807, aged 
73 ; and will long be remembered 
with veneration and respect. Pop. 
2416. 

Merrimack, one of the prin- 
cipal rivers of New-England, is 
formed of two branches. The N. 
branch called Pemigewasset, rises 
near the Notch of the White-Moun- 
tains, and passes southwardly 
through a corner of Franconia,Lin- 
coln, Peeling, Thornton and Camp- 
ton, forming the boundary between 
Plymouth and Holderness, and also 
the boundary line between the 
counties of Strafford and Grafton 
from the S. corner of Holderness 
to its junction with the Winnepis- 
iogee. It receives several consid- 
erable branches in its course — Mad 
river in Campton, Baker's in Ply- 
mouth ; and streams flowing frora 
Squam and Newfound lakes, with 
numerous small tributaries. The 
E. branch is the Winnepisiogee, 
through which pass the waters of 
the lake of that name. The de- 
scent of this branch from the lake 
to its junction with Pevnigewasset 
is 232 feet. The confluent stream 
bears the name of Merrimack, and 
pursues a S. course, 78 miles, to 
Chelmsford, Mass. ; thence an E. 
course, 35 miles to the sea at New- 
buryport. On the N. line of Con- 
cord, the Contoocook di<;cV;arges 
its waters into the Merrimack. 
The Soucook becomes a tributary^ 
in Pembroke, and the Suncook be- 
tween Pembroke and AUenstown. 
The Piscataquog unites in Bedford ; 



the Souhegan in Merrimack, and a 
beautiful river called Nashua in 
Dunstable. The principal tribu- 
taries are on the W. side of the 
river, mostly rising in the highlands 
between the Connecticut and Mer- 
rimack. There are numerous falls 
in this river, the most noted of 
which are Garven's, in Concord, 
the falls in Hooksett, and Amos- 
keagin Manchester. See jimos- 
keag, 8fc. These falls are all i-en- 
dered passable by locks, and boat 
navigation has for several years 
been extended as far as Concord. 
There are several bridges over the 
Merrimack and its principal bran- 
ches, besides a number of ferries^ 
The Merrimack, whose fountains 
are nearly on a level with the Con- 
necticut, being much shorter in its 
course has a far more rapid de- 
scent to the sea than the latter riv- 
er. Hence the intervals on its bor- 
ders are less extensive, and the 
scenery less beautiful than on the 
Connecticut. It is, however, a 
majestic river ; its waters are gen- 
erally pure and healthy ; and on 
its borders are situated some of the 
most flourishing towns in the state. 
The name of this river was origin- 
ally written Merramacke and 
Monnowake, which in the Indian 
language signified a sturgeon. Its 
width varies from 50 to 120 rods ; 
and at its mouth it presents a beau- 
tiful sheet of half a mile in width. 
For notices of the canals and 
bridges on this river, see pp. 14, 17. 
Merribiack, a post-town in 
Hillsborough county, in lat. 42° 51', 
is bounded N. by Bedford, E. by 
Litchfield, S. by Dunstable and W. 
by Amherst, containing 19,361 
acres. It is 6 miles from Amherst, 
27 from Concord and 45 from Bos- 
ton. Merrimack river waters its 
E. border through its whole extent, 
opening a communication by water 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



187 



from this place to Boston. Souhe 
gan enters this town from Amherst 
pursues a winding course to the 
Merrimack, where it discharges 
itself one mile above Thornton's 
ferry. There are fine water privi 
leges on this stream. At the mouth 
of it is a valuable factory, which 
was erected in room of one, owned 
by Isaac Riddle, Esq. & Sons 
which was consumed by fire, June 
10, 1818, with a loss of $6000. 
This factory has lately enlarged it.' 
plan' of operation, and bids fair to 
become one of the best establish- 
ments of the kind in the county 
A small village is sitnated in its vi 
cinity, which is a place of consid 
erable business. Babboosuck brook 
issuing from Babboosuck pond in 
Amherst, empties into Souhegan 
river, and Penichook brook from a 
pond in Hollis, forms the southern 
boundary. Tliis town presents no 
remarkable peculiarity of surface 
It may be considered a level tract, 
having but few hills, and those not 
%vorthy of particular notice. The 
soil in various places is very fertile, 
but a considerable portion of the 
land is plain. There are some fine 
intervals on the Merrimack. The 
wealth and population have not in- 
creas«d as might have been expect- 
ed from its local advantages. Some 
of the best and most extensive wa- 
ter privileges the county affords, 
about 1 1-2 mile from the Merri- 
mack, on Souhegan river, lie un- 
improved. This town claims the 
first discovery in this region of ma- 
king what are called Leghorn bon- 
nets. They were first made sever- 
al years since by the Misses Bur- 
naps, who are deserving much 
credit for their eviterprize in this 
species of manufacture. Some of 
their bonnets have been sold at 
auction in Boston for $50. This 
f.own was formerly caUed Souhegan 



East. All that part S. of Souhegan 
river was included in the Dunstable 
grant. The remainder belonged to 
Number 5, of the Narraganset 
townships. (See Bedford.) It was 
incorporated by charter, April 2, 
1746, having been settled about 13 
years. A Mr. Hassell was among 
the first settlers, and his daughter 
was the first person born in town. 
The first house in this town was 
built many years before any perma- 
nent settlement was made. It was 
erected on the margin of the river 
for a house of trafiic withthe In- 
dians. It was called Cromwell's 
house, and was occupied by John 
Cromwell, originally from England, 
but last from Boston. For some 
time he carried on a lucrative trade 
with the Indians, weighing their 
furs with his foot, till, enraged at 
his supposed or real deception, 
they formed the resolution to mur» 
der him. This intention was com- 
municated to Cromwell, who bu- 
ried his wealth and made his es- 
cape. Within a few hours after 
his flight, a party of the Penacook 
tribe arrived, and not finding the 
object of their resentment, they 
burnt his habitation. The time 
when thif occurred is not positive- 
ly known, but it is inferred that it 
was after 1679, when it appears his 
house was standing. The name of 
Merrimack is derived from the riv- 
er on which it is situated. A con- 
gregational church was formed 
Sept. 5, 1772. Rev. Jacob Burnap, 
D. D. from Reading, Ms. who grad- 
uated at Harvard college in 1770, 
was ordained Oct. 14, 1772 ; died 
Dec. 26, 1821, aged 75, having ad- 
mitted to the church 194 members. 
He was eminently distinguished for 
his superior knowledge of the orig- 
inal languages, in which the scrip- 
tures were written. He was much 
esteemed for his piety, integrity 



188 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



patience and all the social virtues. 
Hon. Matthew THORWTON,.one 
of the signers of the Declaration of 
American Independence, resided 
many years in this town. He died 
while on a visit at Newburvport, 
June 24, 1803, at the age of 89. 
He was a member of the fust con- 
gress, and manyiji'ears a judge of 
the superior court of N. H. a rep- 
resentative, senator and counsellor^ 
and sustained other important offi- 
ces. For a memoir of him, see 
Historical Collections for I822,page 
87—91. Pop. 1162. 

Merrymeeting bay, an arm 
of the Winnepisiogee lake, extends 
about 1800 rods into the town of 
Alton, and is 27 miles from the nav- 
igable waters of the Paseataqua. 
See AUon. 

Merrtmeeting pond. See 
J^ew-Durham. 

Middleton, post-to\vn,in Straf- 
ford CO. lat. 43° 29', is bounded N. 
by Brookfield, E. by Wakefield, S. 
by Milton, and W. by New-Dur- 
ham, comprising 9,840 acres. It is 
a very level township, having no 
high ground except a part of Moose 
mountain, which separates it from 
Brookfield. There are no rivers 
nor ponds ; the soil is rocky ; the 
growth of wood chiefly hemlock 
and spruce, with some maple and 
beech. There are 3 schools, and a 
meeting house. Rev. Nehemiah 
Ordway, graduated at Harvard col- 
lege in 1764, was settled here in 
1778, remained a few years, and 
was dismissed. Elder William 
Buzzell, a free-will baptist, is the 
only preacher. Middleton was in- 
corporated March 4, ■:778. The 
first settlers were from Lee and 
Rochester. Pop. 482. 

MiLFORD, a post-town in Hills- 
borough county, in lat. 42° 59', is 
bounded N. by Mont-Vernon and 
Lyndeborough, E. by Amherst, S. 



by Hollis and Brookline. W. by 
Mason and Wilton, containing 15,- 
402 acres. It is 2 1-2 miles fror?> 
Amherst, 31 from Concord, and 4T 
from Boston. Milfoid lirs on 
both sides of Souhegan river, r/hich 
nins through the town from W. t» 
E. forming a rich meadow or inter- 
val, from 1-4 to 1-2 a mile wide. 
The banks of this river are annual- 
ly overflowed, ty which means, 
the soil, which is black and deep, is 
much enriched. The forest tiees 
are, on the river, elm, walnut, but- 
ternut, &;c. ; on the highlands,white, 
red and black oak, chesnut, white 
and yellow pine, maple, hemlock, 
&c. This town has excellent wat- 
er privileges. There is a valuable 
factory in the village, containing 
844 spindles. There are fine or- 
chards, and fruit of an excellent 
quality and flavor is produced. — 
Sixty two bushels of apples have 
been gathered from one tree the 
same season. The village, pleas- 
antly situated on both sides of the 
river, contains two meeting-houses, 
one on each side, one school-house 
2 factory buildings, 51 dwelling 
houses, 3 stores, post-office, &c. — 
Milford was formerly known as th* 
S. W. parish of Amherst. It was 
corporated Jan. 11, 1794, and in- 
cludes what was anciently called, 
the Mile Slip and Dwxbury school 
farm. Eighty familif s were detach- 
ed from Amherst and several from 
Hollis,when it was incorporated.— 
The first settlers were John Burns, 
William Peabody, Benjamin Hop- 
kins, Caleb Jones,Nathan Hutchin- 
son, Andrew Bradford and other.s, 
whose descendants are numerous 
and respectable. Capt. Josiah 
Crosby and William Wallace were 
among the early settler?. The 
former, a revolutionary officer, died 
Oct. 15, 1793, aged 63 ; the latter 
in 1791, aged 73. There are two re- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



189 



iigious societies. The congregation- 
alchurchwasernbodied in 1788,con- 
sisting of 19 members. Rev. Hum- 
phrey Moore was ordained Oct. 13, 
1802. The baptist churcli, consist- 
ing of 28 members, was constituted 
Sept. 5, 1809. It now contains a- 
bout 100 members. The baptist 
society have a very neat and hand- 
some meeting house, erected in 
1816. Pop. 1243. 

MiLTOJV, post-tow?n,Strafford co. 
in lat. 43° 26', isboanded N. W. 
by Middleton and Wakefield, E. by 
Salmon Fall river, separating it 
from Maine, S. W. by Farmington, 
and contains about 25,000 acres 
The Salmon Fall river washes its 
whole E. boundary, a distance of 
13 miles ; and a branch of the 
same river crosses from the S. part 
of Wakefield, and unites near the 
centre of the E. boundary. Tene- 
riffe, a bold and rocky mountain, 
extends along the E. part of Milton, 
near which lies Milton pond,of con- 
siderable size, connecting with the 
Salmon Fall river. This town was 
formerly a part of Rochester, from 
which it was detached, and incor 
porated June 11, 1802. There is a 
meeting-house here, but no settled 
minister. Pop. 1232. 

MiLLSFiELD, Coos county, is 
an uninhabited township, in lat 
44° 43', 7 miles W. of Umbagog 
lake, and about 35 N. from the 
White mountains. It is bounded 
N. by Dixville, E. by Errol, S. by 
Dummer, W. by Ervin's location 
and ungranted lands. Clear stream 
waters its N. extremity, and Phil- 
lip's riverjvvith several small streams 
the other parts. Here are several 
ponds, the largest is about 300 rods 
long, 140 wide. Millsfield was 
granted March 1, 1774, to George 
Boyd and 81 others; and was na- 
med after Sk Thomas Mills, a 

R2 



grantee. It contains an area of 23,- 
200 acres. 

Mohawk river, in Coos county, 
has its source among the mountains 
of Dixville, and in its W. course 
through Colebrook, receives some 
considerable branches from Stew- 
artstown, among which is Beaver 
brook. It passes into the Connec- 
ticut below the centre of Cole- 
brook. 

MoNADNocK mountain, usually 
called the Grand Monadnock, is 
situated in the towns of Jafifrey and 
Dublin, in Cheshire county, about 
22 miles E. from Connecticut river, 
and 10 N. of the southern bounda- 
ry of this state. The direction of 
the ridge is N. E. and S. W. The 
mountain is about 5 miles long from 
N. to S. and 3 miles from E. to W. 
Its base, according to Judge Wiii- 
throp's observations made in 1780,is 
1395 feet,and its summit 3254 feet 
above the level of the sea. Ac- 
cording to Professor Dana, who vis- 
ited the mountain in 1816, its base 
is 1452.5, and its summit is 3450 
above the level of the sea. Tlte 
mountain is composed of talc, mi- 
ca, slate, distinctly stratified. Gar- 
net, schorl, feldspar and quartz oc- 
cur in various parts. On the E. 
side, plumbago is found in large 
quantities. Crucibles and pencils 
have been manufactured from it, 
but for the latter, it proves not ve- 
ry good. The summit, when seen 
at a distance of 4 or 5 miles, appears 
rounded and destitute of those high 
cliffs and mural precipices belonging 
to granitic mountains. The prospect 
from the pinnacle is very extensive ; 
thirty ponds of fresh water, some of 
which are so large as to contain isl- 
ands of 8 or 10 acres, may be seen 
from it, in the immediate vicinity. 
Near the base of themountain,is the 
"Monadnock Mineral Spring." Sue 
Jqffrey. 



190 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Mont- Vernon, a pleasant ele- 
vated township in Hillsborough 
county, in lat. 42° 53', is bounded 
N. by New-Boston, E. by Amherst, 
S. by Amherst and Milford and W. 
by Lyndeborough, containing 7,976 
acres. It is three miles,N. W. from 
Amherst, 28 from Concord and 50 
from Boston. There is but one 
stream of any note, and this isvbut 
small : it rises near the north part 
of Mont-Vernon, and runs through 
Amherst near the E. extremity of 
the plain and empties into Souhe- 
gan river in the S. part of Amherst. 
That part of this stream near the 
mouth was called by the Indians 
Quohquinapassakessanannagnog:- 
The soil here does not materially 
differ from that of the circumjacent 
towns. The forest trees are maple, 
beech, birch, white and red oak. 
The situation is elevated, and to- 
wards the E. and S. E. there is a 
considerable prospect. There is a 
pleasant village situated near the 
highest point of elevation, having 
a congregational meeting house, 
22 dvTelling houses, three stores, 
&c. The 2d N. H. turnpike passes 
through this village. There is a 
social library. This town was 
originally apart of Amherst, from 
which it was detached and incorpo- 
rated Dec. 15,1803. Its settlement 
commenced soon after that of Am- 
herst. Isaac Smith, aged 91, and 
Jonathan Lampson, aged 90, two of 
the early iniiabitants, died here in 
1807 and 1815. A congregational 
church was formed in 1780. Rev. 
John Bruce,who graduated at Dart- 
mouth College in 1781, was ordain- 
ed Nov. 23, 1735 ; died March 12, 
1809, aged 62. Rev. Stephen 
Chapin, who graduated at Harvard 
college in 1804, was installed Nov. 
15, 1809. Having espoused bap- 
tist sentiments, he was dismissed 
in Nov. 1818. Rev. Ebenezei 



Cheever, who graduated at Bow- 
doin college in 1817,ordained Dec- 
8, 1819; was dismissed April 8,1823. 
Dr.DANiEL ADAMS,who commen- 
ced and conducted the Medical and 
Agricultural Register, and is author 
of a popular system of Arithmetic, 
school geography, and a number of 
useful school books, has his resi- 
dence in this place. Pop. 729. 

MOOSEHILLOCK Or MOOSHE- 

LOCK, is a noble and lofty emi- 
nence in the S. E. part of Cov- 
entry, and ranks among the highest 
mountains in New-England. The 
altitude of the N. peak above tide 
water, as estimated by Capt. Par- 
tridge from barometrical observa- 
tions, is 4636 feet— that of the S. 
peak is 4536 feet. Baker's river 
has its source on its eastern side. 

Moose, the name of a mountain 
situated between Middleton and 
Brookfield, and also of the moun- 
tain in Hanover. See Brookfield 
and Hanover. 

Moose river has its rise on the 
N. side of the White Mountains 
nearDurand, through which it pas- 
ses, and unites with the Ameriscog- 
gin in Shelburne. Its source is 
very near that of Israel's river, 
which passes W. into Connecti- 
cut. 

MoRiAH, an elevated peak of 
the White Mountains, situated in 
the S. part of Shelburne. 

MOULTONBOROTJGH, pOSt-tOWn- 

ship, Strafford county, in lat. 43° 
44', is situated on the N. W. shore 
of Winnepisiogee lake, bounded N. 
by Sandwich and Tamworth, N. E. 
by Ossipee, S.E.by Tuftonborougb, 
and W. by Centre-Harbor vind 
Squara lake. This town is broken 
by mountains and ponds. Red 
Hill, lying wholly within this town, 
commands notice from the E., S- 
and W. ; and extends about 3 
miles from E. to W., between Red 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



191 



Hill river on the N., Great Squam 
on the W., Great Squam and Long 
pond on tke S., terminating S. E. 
by a neck of fine land extending 
into the Winnepisiogee. Its sum- 
mit is covered with the uvoe ursi 
and low blueberry bush, which in 
autumn give the hill a reddish hue, 
from which circumstance its name 
was probably derived. A number 
of oval bluffs rise on its summit, 
from each of which the prospect 
on eithei hand is extensive and de- 
lightful. The N. bluff is supposed 
to consist of a body of iron ore. 
Slight attempts have been made 
upon the mass, and the results indi- 
cate that an effectual attempt would 
develope a very rich and valuable 
bed of ore. Bog ore is found in a 
brook descending from this bluff. 
Ossipee mountain extends its base 
into this town, and is a command- 
ing elevation. On the S. part of 
this mountain, in Moultonborougn, 
is a mineral chalybeate spring, the 
waters strongly impregnated with 
iron and sulphur, and efficacious 
in cutaneous eruptions. About 
a mile N. is a spring of pure cold 
water, 16 feet in diameter, through 
the centre of which the water, con- 
taining a small portion of fine white 
sand, is constantly thrown up to the 
height of two feet — the spring fur- 
nishing water sufficient for mills. 
On the stream nearly a mile below 
is a beautiful waterfall of 70 feet 
perpendicular. Descending on the 
left of this fal],a cave is found, con- 
taining charcoal and other eviden- 
ces of its having been a hiding 
place for the Indians. Red Hill 
river originates in Sandwich, and 
passes through this town into the 
Winnepisiogee. Long pond is a 
beautiful sheet of water, and con- 
nects with the lake by a channel 
60 rods in length. Squam and 
Winnepisiogee lakes lie partly in 



Moultonborough. The soil of this 
town is fruitful, though in some 
parts rocky. The E. winds falling 
over Ossipee mountain are fre- 
quently destructive and always vio- 
lenL The N. W. winds falling 
over Red Hill are also violent, and 
frequently do much damage. Moul- 
tonborough was granted by the Ma- 
sonian proprietors, Nov. 17,1763, 
to Col. Jonathan Moulton and 61 
others, principally from Hampton. 
Settlements commenced in 1764,by 
Ezekiel Moulton and a few others, 
and in the following year others 
joined them. The first house for 
public worship was erected in 1773, 
and was blown down by an E. wind 
in Dec. 1819. March 12, 1777, a 
congregational church was embod- 
ied, and in Oct. 1778, Rev. Samuel 
Perley was ordained, but continued 
only a few months. Rev. Jeremi- 
ah Shaw, from Hampton, who grad- 
uated at Harvard college in 1767, 
at the age of 20,was ordained IV ov. 
17, 1779. In 1816, hi? civil con- 
tract with the town was annuiled ; 
yet he still preaches to his church, 
and people. He is one of the old- 
est clergymen in N.H.,andduringhis 
ministry has solemnized more than 
400 marriages. Many Indian im- 
plements and relics have been found 
indicating this to have been once 
their favorite residence. In 1820, 
on a small island in the Winnepis- 
iogee, was found a curious gun-bar- 
rel much worn by age and rust, di- 
vested of its stock, enclosed in the 
body of a pitch pine tree 16 inches 
in diameter. Its butt rested on a 
f?at rock, its muzzle elevated about 
30°. In I819,a small dirk 1 1-2 feet in 
length from the point to the end of 
the hilt, round blade, was found in a 
new field one foot under grxmnd, 
bearing strong marks of antiquity. 
On the line of Tuftonborough, on 
the shore of the lake, at the moutte 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



of Melvin river, a gigantic skeleton 
was found about 15 years since 
buried in a sandy soil, apparently 
that of a man more than seven feet 
high — the jaw bones easily pass 
ing over the face of a large man. A 
tumulus has been discovered on a 
piece of newly cleared land, of the 
length and appearance of a human 
gxave, and handsomely rounded 
with small stones, not found in this 
part of the country ; which stones 
are too closely placed to be separ- 
ated by striking an ordinary blow 
with a crow-bar, and bear marks of 
being a composition. The Ossipee 
tribe of Indians once resided in 
this vicinity, and some years since 
a tree was standing in Moultonbor- 
ough, on which was carved in hie 
roglyphics the history of their ex 
peditions. Pop. 1279. 

N. 

NarmarcttwgAwAck, a branch 
of the Ameriscoggin, rises in the 
township of Success, and unites 
with the main stream in Pauls- 
burgh. 

Nash and Sawyer's Loca- 
tion, in the county of Coos, lat. 
440 13', is a tract of 2184 acres, 
granted May 20, 1773, to Timothy 
Nash and Benjam.in Sawyer, fo"r 
their labor and expense in explor- 
ing a route through the White 
Mountains. The pass through the 
notch, the only route by which the 
inhabitants beyond the mountains, 
can reach the eastern settlements, 
witliout a great circuit, was known 
to the Indians ; but to the peopb; 
of New-Hampsliire it was either 
unknowiv or they had forgotten it. 
Nash made the discovery, and after- 
wards admitted Sawyer to a share 
of the benefits. They were both- 
hunters, and the property was of 
little service to them. This tract 
is bounded N. by Bretton Woods,! 



E. l)y the White Mountains, S. by 
Chadbourne and Hart's Location, 
W. by lands ungranted. Pop. 22. 

Nash's stream, a branch of the 
Upper Amonoosuck, has its sourc- 
es in Stratford and the lands E., 
and unites with the river in the N. 
W. part of Piercy. 

Nashua river,a beautiful stream 
in the S. part of Hillsborough coun- 
ty, has its source in Worcester 
county, Mass. It is formed of two 
branches called the N. and S. bran- 
ches. The N. branch is formed of 
two streams,one from Ashburnham, 
the other from Wacliuset pond. — 
The S. branch is composed of Still 
river, issuing from the E. side of 
Wachuset mountain, and a small 
stream from Quinepoxet pond in 
Holden. These branches are unit- 
ed in Lancaster, from which the 
main river proceeds in a N. E. 
course to Harvard, Shirley, Groton, 
and Pepperell in Mass. ; and from 
thence into N. H. through Hollis, 
and nearly the centre of Dunstable, 
where it falls into Merrimack riv- 
er. 

Nashua village, on the preced- 
ing river, in Dunstable, is 11 miles 
from Amherst, 36 from Boston, and 
32 from Concord. It is a place of 
considerable business, being situa- 
ted near the Merrimack river, and 
on the great road from Amherst to 
Boston, and on the road mostly 
travelled by teams from Concord to 
Boston. Its location is pleasant, 
and it has a number of handsome 
buildings. 

NELSON,post-township,in Chesh- 
ire county, in lat. 42° 59', is bound- 
ed N. by Stoddard, E. by Antrim 
and Hancock, S. by Dublin, W. by 
Roxbury and Sullivan, containing 
22,875 acres, being 40 miles from 
Concord. This town is situated 
on the height of land between Con- 
necticut and Merrimack rivers. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



193 



The surface is hilly, but good for 
grazing. The streams are small. 
?n the S. part, a branch of Ashue- 
!ot river rises, and from Long pond 
.a this town and Hancock, issues a 
branch of Contoocook river. The 
best mill privileges are furnished 
by streams, issuing from ponds in 
this town, of which there are four, 
containing a surface of 1800 acres. 
There is a cotton factory, in which 
property to the amount of $10,000 
is invested. The principal articles 
of produce are beef,pork,butter and 
cheese. The inhabitants are prin- 
cipally farmers of industrious hab- 
its. This town was originally called 
Monadnock JVo. 6. It was granted 
by the Masonian proprietors ; and 
chartered Feb. 22, 1774, by the 
name of Packersjield, from Thomas 
Packer, who owned about one half 
of the township. In June, 1814, the 
name was altered to Nelson. The 
first settlements commenced in 

1767, by Breed Batchelder, and in 

1768, by Dr. Nathaniel Breed. The 
congregational church was formed 
Jan. 31, 1781, at which time Rev. 
Jacob Foster was installed. He 
was dismissed in 1791. Rev. Gad 
.^exoell, who graduated at Yale col- 
ifge in 1786, was ordained June 
11,1774. The number of church 
members in 1822, was 152. Pop. 
90?. 

New-Bostojt, post-township, in 
Hillsborough county, in lat. 42° 
58', is bounded N. by Weare, E. by 
(ioifstown and Bedford, S. by Am- 
herst and Lyndeborough, and W. 
by Lyndeborough and Francestown, 
containing an area of 26,536 acres. 
It is 9 miles from Amherst, 22 from 
Concord, and 57 from Boston. It 
js watered by several streams, the 
largest of which is the S. branch 
of Piscataquog river, having its 
source in Pleasant pond in Fran- 
cestown. This town consists of fer- 



tile hills, productive vales, and 
some valuable meadows. The soil 
is favorable for all the various pro- 
ductions common to this section 
of the state, and there are many 
excellent farms under good culti- 
vation. In the S. part of New-Bos- 
ton, there is a considerable eleva- 
tion, called Jo English hill, on one 
side of which it is nearly perpen- 
dicular. Its height, taken from the 
road through the notch of the hill, 
is 572 feet. Beard's pond, in the 
N. E. part, and Jo English pond, 
in the S. part of this town and the 
N. part of Amherst, are the only 
ponds of note. The 2d N. H. turn- 
pike passes through the S. W. cor- 
ner of this town, near which are 
the Grisly mills. There is a social 
library, of 200 volumes, incorpo- 
rated June 16, 1801. The follow- 
ing natives of this town have re- 
ceived a collegiate education. Wil- 
liam Wilson, now a judge of the 
supreme court of the state of Ohio, 
William Ferson, Nathaniel Peabo- 
dy, Rev. Thomas Cochran, Peter 
Cochran, Robert Cochran, and Rev. 
Samuel Clark. There is a minis- 
terial fund, of which the annual 
interest is $344 55. New-Boston 
was granted by Massachusets, Jan. 
14, 1736, to inhabitants of Boston, 
from which circumstance it receiv- 
ed its name. It was incorporated 
by N. H. Feb. 18, 1763. The fir&t 
settlement commenced about the 
year 1733. The names of some 
of the earliest settlers were Coch- 
ran, Wilson, Caldwell. M'Neil,Fer- 
son and Smith. In Sept. 1756, the 
settlement contained 1 saw and 1 
grain mill, 31 dwelling-houses, in- 
habited by 27 men, 10 women, and 
9 males and 10 females under the 
age of 14 years. The presbyteri- 
an church was formed about 1768. 
jThe first minister was Rev. Solo- 
(monMoor, a native of Newtown, 



194 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Limavady, in Ireland, who received 
his education at Glasgow, in Scot- 
land, and studied theology with pro- 
fessor Leechmanof that university. 
He was licensed to preach, July 26, 
1762, and a few years after came 
to this country. In Feb. 1767, he 
arrived at New-Boston, and was or- 
dained Sept. 6, 1768; died May 
28, 1803, aged 67. Rev. Ephraim 
P. Bradford, who graduated at 
Harvard college in 1803, was or- 
dained his successor, Feb. 26,1806. 
There are two baptist churches, 
over one of which, Rev. Isaiah 
Stone was ordained Jan. 8, 1806. 
Pop. 1686. 

New-Castle, township, Rock- 
ingham county, lat. 43° 5', is a 
rough and rocky island, situated in 
Portsmouth Harbor, and formerly 
called Great Island. A handsome 
bridge, built in 1821, connects this 
town with Portsmouth. Here is an 
ancient cliiirch, but no preacher. — 
Rev. Samuel Moody preached here 
previous to the commencement of 
the 16th century. He was succeed- 
ed by Rev. John Emerson, ordain- 
ed in 1704 ; Rev. William Shurt- 
leff, in 1712 ; Rev. John Blunt, in 
1732; Rev. David Robinson, in 
174-; Rev.StephenChase.in 1750; 
and Rev. Oliver Noble, in 1784. 
The church is at present va- 
cant. New-Castle was incorpora- 
ted in 1693, and contains 458 
acres. This island was the seat of 
business, when ancient Strawberry 
Bank was the mere germe of the 
town of Portsmouth. Fishing is 
here pursued with success ; and 
the soil among the rocks, being of 
good quality, is made to produce a- 
bundantly. Fort Constitution and 
the light-house stand on this island. 
The position of each is very advan- 
tageous. Hon. Theodore At- 
kinson, for a number of years 
ciiief-justice of the province, secre- 



tary and president of the council, 
was born at New-Gastle Dec. 20, 
1697 ; graduated at HaxTard in 
1718 ; died Sept. 22,1789, aged 82. 
Nathan Priest, Esq. for many 
years a member of the legislature, 
died here in 1822. Pop. 932. 

New-Chester, post-township 
in Grafton county, in lat. 43° 31', 
is bounded N. by Bristol, Danbury, 
and Alexandria, E. by New-Hamp- 
ton and Sanbornton, S. by Ando- 
ver, W. by Wilmot, being 10 miles 
in length, and containing 20,000 
acres. It is 24 miles from Con- 
cord, 44 from Haverhill, 25 from 
Hanover and 86 from Boston. It 
is watered by Pemigewasset and 
Blackwater rivers, and several 
small streams. Eagle pond is the 
only one of note. Ragged moun- 
tain is a considerable elevatian and 
but little inferior to Kearsarge. 
Viewed from the summit of the 
neighboring hills, this town appears 
very uneven, yet there are many 
fine tracts converted into produc- 
tive farms. The soil in some parts 
is rich and fertile — it is generally 
good. The forest trees are white 
pine, birch, beech, hemlock, ma- 
ple, &c. There is at the S. E. sec- 
tion of the town, a flourishing vil- 
lage, containing an elegant meeting- 
house, built in 1821, and 20 dwel- 
ling-houses, situated on a spacious 
street 1 hiile in length. There are 
several charitable societies ; also 
a musical society, a social library 
of 100 volumes, incorporated Dec. 
10, 1800. The number of deaths 
for 3 years ending Jan. 1, 1822, was 
47. A Mr. Emerson lived to the 
age of 96. This town was granted 
Sept. 14, 1753, to 87 proprietors, 
who held their first meeting at Clies- 
ter, and as the greater part of the 
first inhabitants belonged to that 
place, it was called New-Chester. 
The first settlement was in 1768* 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



195 



by Capt. Cutting Favor, who di- 
ed March 8, 1822, aged 85, and by 
Carr Huse, Esq. who was a civil 
magistrate 35 years, town clerk 33 
years, and representative several 
years, and is now the oldest man in 
town. New-Chester was incorpo- 
rated Nov. 20, 1778. In Dec. 1820, 
six children of Mr. Williaai Fol- 
lansbee were consumed in the 
flames of his house, while he and 
his wife were absent. There is a 
congregational society, incorpora- 
ted Dec. 11, 1816. Pop. 970. 

New-Durham, post-town,Straf- 
ford county, lat. 43^ 26', is bound- 
ed N. W. by Wolfeborough and 
Alton, E. by Brookfield and Miu- 
dleton, S. E. by Farmington, S. W. 
and W. by Alton; and contains 
23,625 acres. The surface of this 
town is very uneven, a portion so 
rocky as to be unfit for cultivation. 
The soil is generally moist, an 
well adapted to grazing. Thei 
are 5 ponds in New-Durham, th 
largest of which is Merrymeeting 
pond, about 10 miles in circumfc 
ence, from which a copious and 
perpetual stream nans S. and ib.ei 
N. W. into Merrymeeting bay it 
Alton. Ela's river flows from Cold- 
rain pond into Farmiigton, on 
which is a fine waterfall. Tn 
Cocheco also has its source hett 
Mount Betty, Cropple-crown an 
Straw's mountains are the principal 
eminences. On the N. E. side of 
the latter is a remarkable cave, thf 
entrance of which is about 3 feet 
wide and 10 feet high. The outt^r 
room is 20 feet square ; the inner 
apartments grow smaller, until at 
the distance of 50 feet they become 
too small to be investigated. T\•'^ 
sides both of the galleries and the 
rooms are solid granite. They be.ir 
marks of having been once united, 
and were probably separated by 
some great convulsion of nature. 



There is a fountain, over which a 
part of Ela's river passes, which is 
regarded as a curiosity. By sinking 
a small mouthed vessel into this 
fountain, water may be procure^ 
extremely cold and pure. Its depth 
has not been ascertained. Near the 
centre of the town is Rattlesnake 
hill, the S. side of which is nearly 
100 feet high, and nearly perpen- 
dicular. Several other hiils in this 
town contain precipices and cavi- 
ties, some of considerable extent. 
New-Durham war. granted in 1749, 
to Ebenezer Smith and otners. It 
was incorporated Dec. 7, 1762, by 
its present name. Col. Thomas 
TASH, who was active in forward- 
ing the settlement, resided here dur- 
ing the last 20 years of his life. — 
He was born in Durham in 1722 ; 
was a brave officer in the French 
and revolutionary wars ; and at the 
close of the latter, removed to New- 
Durham, where he died at the age 
oT 87. Rev. Nathaniel Porter was 
ordained over a coni^rrgational 
church here Sept. 8, 1773. and re» 
moved in 1777. Elder Benjamin 
Rundall, the founder of the s^ct of 
ireewill baptists, commenced ins la- 
bors iiere in 17S0, and organized a 
church. He died in 1808, aged 60. 
Elders Joseph Boody and Jonathan 
Kenney are tne presmt preacliers. 
The N. H. Charitable Society was 
formed here in 1813. Pop. 1168. 

New-Found, the name of a large 
pond, and a river, in the county of 
Grafton. See Bristol. 

New-Hamptojv, post-township, 
is situated in the N. W. corner of 
Strafford county, lat. 43° 37'; 
hounded W. by Pemigewasset riv- 
8i-, N. by Ilolderness, E. by Centre- 
Horbar, S. by Meredith and San- 
hornton, and comprises an area of 
19,422 acres. Pemigewasset river, 
which washes the W. boundary 
is the only stream of magnitude ; 



196 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



and over it is thrown the bridge 
which unites the town with Bristol. 
There is a remarkable spring on 
the W. side of Kelley's hill in this 
town, from which issues a stream 
sufficient to supply several mills, 
&c. This stream is never affected 
by rains or droughts, and falls into 
the river after running about a 
mile. Pemigewasset pond lies on 
the border of Meredith, and is 
about 200 rods in diameter. There 
is another, called Measley pond, 
and three other smaller ponds. The 
soil of New-Hampton, though the 
surface is broken and uneven, is 
remarkably fertile, producing in 
abundance most kinds of grain and 
grass. The industry of the inhab 
itants has enabled them in years of 
scarcity to supply the wants of 
other towns. In the S. part of the 
town there is a high hill of a con 
ical form which may be seen in al 
most any direction from 10 to 50 
miles — the prospect from the sum 
mit of whicli is very pleasant. The 
first religious society was a baptist 
church formed in 1782, of members 
from Holderness, Bridgewater and 
New-Hampton, over uhich was or- 
dained the same year Eld. Jeremi 
ah Ward— he died in 1816. There 
are two societies of freewill bap 
lists, and several preachers of that 
denomination. In June, 1800, Rev 
Salmon Hibbard was ordained over 
a small congregational church, and 
dismissed in 1816. There is also 
a small society of methodists. 
There are 3 meeting-houses for 
different denominations ; a flour- 
ishing academy lately incorporated, 
and a social library. In 1763, Gen. 
Jonathan Moulton of Hampton, 
having an Ox weighing 1400 
pounds fattened for the purpose, 
hoisted a flag upon his horns am: 
drove him to Portsmouth as a pres. 
ent to Gov. Wentworth. He refus 



ed to receive any compensation, 
but merely as a token of the Gov- 
ernor's friendship and esteem, he 
would like to have a charter of a 
small gore of land he had discover- 
ed adjoining the town of Moulton- 
borough, of which he was one of 
the principal proprietors. It was 
granted, and he called it J^ew- 
Hampton, in honor of his native 
town. It was incorporated Nov. 
27, 1777. Gentre-Harbor was set 
off as a separate town in 1791. 
The first settler was Samuel Kel- 
ley , who moved here in I775~when 
the cry of war was heard on the 
sea-board, and the yell of the sav- 
age resounded on the north. The 
oldest person is Widow Sa rah Kel- 
ley: she is now 103 years of age 
Pop. 1500. 

NewichAwAnnock. See Pas- 
cataqua. 

Newington, a township. Rock- 
ingham county, in lat. 43° 5', 
is bounded N. E by the Pascata- 
qua, E. by Portsmouth, S. by Green- 
land and Great Bay, W. and N, 
W. by Great and Little Bays ; and 
contains 5,273 acres. The soil is 
generally sandy and unproductive ; 
excepting near the waters, where it 
yields good crops of grain and 
grass. At Fox point, in the N. W. 
part of the town, Pascataqua bridge 
is thrown over the river to Goat 
island, and thence to Durham shore. 
The bridge was erected in 1793, is 
2600 feet long, and 40 wide — cost 
^65,401. Newington was original- 
ly a part of Portsmouth and Dover, 
and was early settled. It was dis- 
annexed and incorporated in July, 
1764. Rev. Joseph Adams, the 
first minister of Newington, was 

aduated at Harvard college in 
1710; ordained herein 1715; was 
settled over the town Dec. 15,1774, 
and died May 26, 1783, at the age 
of 95. He was succeeded by Rev. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEEfs. 



197 



Joseph Langdon, ordained Jan 9 
1788, and dismissed in March, 
1810 ; since which time tlie church 
has been vacant. Tiiere is a res- 
pec'.ible society of mechodists, who 
have occasional preaching. New- 
ingtoa was among the settlements 
early exposed to the ravages of the 
Indians. In May, 1690, a party 
of Indians, under a sagamore of the 
name of Hoophood, attacked Fox 
point, destroyed several houses, kil- 
led 14 persons, and took G prisoners. 
They were immediately pursued 
by the inhabitants, who recovered 
some of the captives and a part of 
the plunder, after a severe action, 
in v.'hich Hoophood was wounded. 
Richard Downing, Esq. who 
graduated at Harvard College in 
1739, was a citizen of this town, 
and for nearly 40 years its repre- 
sentative. He died at the age of 
78. March 5, 1765, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Hight died in this town, aged 100. 
Mrs. Sarah Dame was lately living 
here, at the age of 100, intolerable 
health, and able to walk about. 
Pop. 541. 

New-Ipswich, a post-town, in 
Hillsborough county, in lat. 42° 
45', is bounded S. by Massachusetts 
and W. by Rindge, N. by Sharon 
and Temple, E. by Mason. It is 6 
miles in length and 5 in breadth, 
and contains 20,860 acres. It is 50 
miles from Concord, 70 from Ports- 
mouth, 50 from Boston, 452 from 
Washington City. The town is 
watered by many rivulets, hut prin- 
cipally by the Souhegan river, 
which is formed by the junction of 
two streams ; the W. is^iing from 
a small pond on the Pasture moun- 
tain, so called ; the S. from two 
ponds in Ashburnham, Ms. near 
the base of Watatick hill. The 
Souhegan takes a N. E. course 
through the town, and after passing 
several towns empties into the 
S 



Merrimack. Over it is a stone 
bridge built in 1817, by the propri- 
etors of the 3d N. H. turnpike. 
This turnpike, commencing at Bel- 
lows falls on Connecticut river, 
passes through Walpole, Keenc, 
Marlborough, JafTrey and New- 
Ipswich to Tovt'nsend, Ms. The 
bridge is 156 feet long, 22 feet wide 
and 42 feet high, resting in a single 
arch of split stone— cost ^3500. 
There are 2 woollen factories and 
3 of cotton; 1 carding machine dis- 
tinct from the woollen fact" -'es ; 1 
mill for grinding tanner's bark : 1 
oil mill. The first cotton factory 
buiit in the state was in 1803, and 
is among the above mentioned ; the 
former building has been taken 
down and now rebuilt with brick, 
84 feet in length, 40 in width, and 
3 stories high ; contains 500 spin- 
dles, a double speeder, warper, 
dresser, &c. and 16 looms ftir weav- 
ing sheeting, and will shortly con- 
tain apparatus sufficient to employ 
50 looms. The 2d factory contains 
500 spindles without looms. The 
3d, 250 spindles without looms. 
There are two small ponds, one 
called Pratt's pond, the other Hoar's 
pond, containing about 50 acres 
each. The soil is termed the soil 
of the Monadnocks, yielding excel- 
lent pasturage. Under cultivation, 
Indian corn, rye, oats, barley, po- 
tatoes, beans, turnips, &c. are pro- 
duced in abundance. The number 
of deaths for 41 years ending Jan. 
1, 1822, was 426. The Ne\v-[p«- 
wich academy was incorporated 
June 18, 1789. Its funds amount 
to $3000. The annual average of 
scholars is 50. The library con- 
sists of 100 volumes, a donation of 
Samuel Appleton, Esq. a native of 
the town, who also presented the 
academy with a pair of globes. 
There is also an appendage to the 
library of 100 volumes belonging to 



1^8 



NEVY-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



the Detnosthenean society. Thei 
principal village is the centre of the j 
town, in a pleasant and fertile val-l 
ley running N. and S.,and contains 
between 30 and 40 dwelling houses. 
Here are the congregational and 
baptist meeting houses, town house 
and academy. The public houses are 
finished in handsome style. Man> 
of the dwelling houses are of brick, 
and are elegant in appearance. 
There are 3 houses for public en- 
tertainment ; four retailing stores, 
where an assortment of foreign and 
domestic merchandize is constantly 
supplied. New-Ipswich was fiisi 
granted by Massachusetts. It was 
settled prior to 1749, by Reuben 
Kidder, Archibald White,Joseph & 
Ebenezer BuUard, Joseph Stevens 
and eight others. It was re-granted 
in April 1750, by the Masonian 
proprietors, and was incorporated 
by charter, Sept. 9, 1762. The first 
settlers had preaching before 1760 
— a church was gathered and occa 
■ionally communed. The first min- 
ister was the Rev. Stephen Farrar, 
a native of Lincoln, Ms, where he 
was born Oct. 22, 1738. He grad- 
uated at Harvard College in 1735 ; 
was ordained Oct. 22, 1760; died 
June 23, 1809, aged 71. Rev. 
Richard Hall succeeded and was 
ordained March 12. 1812. The 
baptist church, which separated 
from the church in Temple, was 
formed in 1811. Rev. John Park 
hurst, who graduated at Harvard 
college, in 1811, was ordained in 
1814; dismissed in 1820. Rev 
Ferris Moore succeeded Mr. Park 
hurst. Many worthy and good men 
have resided in this town. We 
have room to notice only a few of 
them. Reuben Kidder, Esq. one 
of the fi,rst settlers, and the first 
civil magistrate, died in Sept. 1793, 
aged 70. Dr. John Preston was the 
first physician— was eminent in his 



profession. He was a patriot of 
the revolution, several times a mem- 
ber of the General Court, and a use- 
ful magistrate under the new con- 
stitution of the state. He died in 
Feb. 1803, aged 64. Ephraim Ad- 
ams and Benjamin Adams, brothers 
and first settlers, and deacons of the 
church, were useful men and did 
much good in society. The former 
was at the taking of Louisburgh in 
1745, was representative many 
years, and died March 1797, aged 
72. Benjamin died May, 1815, 
aged 86. Hon. Charles Bar- 
rett, one of the principal donors 
to the academy, was a counsellor 
and senator several years. He 
died Sept. 21, 1808, aged 63. Hon. 
Ebenezer ChAmpney was the 
first lawyer in town. He graduate<i 
at Harvard college in 1760 ; came 
here in 1768 ; was 16 years judge 
of probate. Pop. 1278. 

New-London, a post town in 
Hillsborough county, in lat. 43° 27', 
is bounded N. and E. by Wilmot, S. 
by Sutton and Fishersfield, W. by 
Sunapee lake, and N. W. by Spring- 
field, containing about 17,000 acres. 
It is 33 miles from Concord, 75 
from Portsmouth, and 90 from Bos- 
ton. Lake Sunapee separates this 
town from Wendell, and is the 
principal source of Sugar river. 
There are three considerable ponds. 
Little Sunapee pond, 1 1-2 miles in 
iength and 3-4 of a mile in width, 
lies in the W. part and empties its 
waters into Lake Sunapee. Har- 
vey's and Messer's ponds, near the 
centre of the town, are the princi- 
pal sources of Warner river. They 
are about a mile in length, and 3-4 
of a mile in breadth, and are sep- 
arated by a bog, many parts of 
which rise and fall with the water. 
Pleasant pond, in the N. part of 
New-London, is nearly 2 miles long 
and 1 wide. The settlements of 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



199 



New-London are formed principal- 
ly on tliree large swells of land, 
extending through the town in a 
N. W. direction. The soil is deep 
and generally good. The growth 
is maple, birch, beech, white ash, 
hemlock, &;c. In the N. part, are 
several elevations. In some parts 
the land is rocky, but there is 
little not capable of cultivation. 
There is a musical society, a female 
cent society, and a social library, 
incorporated June 9, 1801, of 100 
volumes. The number of deaths 
from April 20, 1809,to JulyS, 1822, 
was 130. The two first settlers 
were Nathaniel Merrill and James 
Lamb. They was followed by 
Eliphalet Lyon and Ebenezer Hunt- 
ing. John Lamb was the first child 
born in town — about 1776. New- 
London was incorporated June 25, 
1779. Its first name was Dantzick : 
Dr. Belknap says, Heidleburg. A 
baptist church was formed Oct. 23, 
1788. Rev. Job Seamans, who was 
born at Swanzey, Ms. May 24, 1 748, 
was ordained Jan. 21, 1789. The 
number of church members is about 
200. There is a small society of 
universalists and some freewill 
baptists. Two natives of New- 
London have received a collegiate 
education, both at Dartmouth Col- 
lege—John H. Slack in 1811, and 
Benjamin Woodbury in 1817. The 
damage sustained by the inhabit- 
ants in the W. part of this town, 
by the violent whirlwind of Sept. 
9, 1821, was estimated at $9000. 
Pop. 924. 

New-Market, post-town,Rock- 
ingham county, in lat. 43° 3', is 
bounded N. by Lee and Durham, 
E. by Squamscot river and Great 
Bay. S. by Exeter, and W. by Ep- 
ping ; comprising an area of 11,082 
acres. Piscassick river passes 
through this town into Durham. 
The Lamprey river washes its N. 



E. boundary, as does the Squam- 
scot the S. E. The soil is good, 
and agricultural pursuits are here 
crowned with much success. There 
are several pleasant and thriving 
villages. New-Market was origin* 
ally a part of Exeter, and was de- 
tached and inco:porated Dec. 15, 
1727. Rev. John Moody was or- 
dained here in 1730, and died in 
1778, aged 73. Rev. Nathaniel 
Ewer afterwards preached here. 
Rev. S. Tombs was ordained in 
1794; afterwards removed. Rev. 
James Thurston was ordained Oct. 
15, 1800, and soon after removed. 
The congregational church has 
since been vacant. Rev. John 
Brodhead is pastor of the methodist 
church ; and Rev. Thomas Cheswell 
pastor of the baptist church. From 
1731 to 1770, there were in New- 
Market 948 baptisms and 654 
deaths, averaging about 28 of the 
former and 14 of the latter annual- 
ly. New-Market Wesleyan Acad- 
emy, a flourishing institution, was 
incorporated June 23, 1818. Mrs. 
Fanny Shute, who died in this town 
Sept. 1819, was regarded with re- 
spect not only for her excellent 
qualities, but the adventures of her 
youth. When 13 months old, she 
was taken by a party of Indians, 
carried to Canada, and disposed of 
to the French — educated in a nun- 
nery, and after remaining 13 years 
in captivity, was redeemed and re- 
stored to her friends. An inter- 
esting narrative of her captivity 
may be found in vol. I, Hist. Coll. 
p. 116. Pop, in 1820-^1083. 

Newport, post-town, Cheshire 
CO., lat. 43° 21', has Croydon on the 
N., Wendell on the E., Goshen and 
Unity S., and Claremont W., com- 
prising an area of 25,267 acres, 40 
miles from Concord and 96 from 
Boston. Its central situation, as it 
regards the towns in the northern 



200 



NEVV-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



half of the county, together with 
the enterprising spirit of its inhab- 
itants, has rendered it a place of 
considerable business. Near the 
centre of the town, and the conflu- 
ence of the E. and S. branches of 
Sugar river, on the Croydon turn- 
pike, is a handsome village, of 
about 30 houses, two meeting hotis- 
es, four stores, two taverns, a cot- 
ton factory and several mechanic 
shops. A mail stage passes through 
this town from Boston to Windsor, 
Vt. 3 times a week. Its soil may 
be said to be of three kinds, alluvial 
on the borders of the dififerent 
branches of Sugar river, particular- 
ly on the S. and N. branches, form- 
ing rich and fertile meadows, ex- 
tending one fourth of a mile gen- 
erally from each side of the river; 
dry and gravelly, on the low 
grounds in other parts of the town ; 
and moist and cold on the hills and 
elevated parts. In general, the soil 
is rich and productive. Sugar river 
flows through this town, and its 
three branches unite near the vil- 
iage,whence it passes throughClare 
mont into the Connecticut. On 
the eastern branch are situated 
principally near the village, 1 cot 
ton factory, 4 saw mills 2 grain 
mills, 1 oil mill, 2 clothing mills, 2 
tanneries with each a bark mill 
and a carding machine. There are 
besides these in the town 5 saw 
mills, one grain mill, I clothing 
mill, 1 carding machine and a trip 
hammer. One grain mill near the 
village has four runs of stones and 
two bolts. Th^re are two ponds o: 
small extent — Nettleton's pond in 
ttie easterly, and Chapin's pond in 
the N. W. part of the town. In 
these, especially in Chapin's pond, 
trout and other fish are caught. 
There are a few eminences desig- 
nated by Bald moimtain, Coit 
mountain, East mountain, and Blue- 



berry hill. Croydon turnpike pass- 
es through this town from Lebanon 
to Amherst, and N. of the village 
receives Cornish turnpike from 
Windsor, Vt. The highways are 
generally in good repair, and the 
four principal roads leading from 
the village to the four adjoining 
towns are generally smooth and 
level. An academy was incor- 
porated in June 1818; is without 
funds — and the average number of 
students attending it is about 35. 
This town is divided into 14 school 
districts;, in most of which are 
handsome and convenient school 
houses. The average number of 
scholars belonging to these districts 
is about 40 to each. There are 
a social library, incorporated in 
June, 1803, containing about 200 
volumes, an instrumental music 
society, incorporated with a fund 
of about ^300, since expended in 
the purchase of musical instru- 
ments, two female cent societies, 
two charitable societies, one tract 
society, a society for educating 
heathen youth, and a missionary 
society. Corinthian Lodge of free- 
masons is located in this town, and 
was chartered in 1816. Those 
from this town, who have received 
a collegiate education, are at Dai'i- 
mouth college, 1794, Abijah Wines; 
1804, Uriah Wilcox; 1804, Hub- 
bard Newton ; 1808. Benjamin 
Sawyer; 1809, Horatio Buel ; 1811, 
Hosea Wheeler; 1816, John Wil- 
cox; 1816, W^illiam Chapin ; Carl- 
ton Hurd, 1818 ; at Yale college^ 
1808, James H. Parmele. New- 
port was granted by charter, Oct. 
6, 1761. The first effort towards 
a settlement was made in the fall 
of 1763, by Jesse Wilcox,Ebenezer 
Merrit, Jesse Kelsey and Samuel 
Hurd. The first settlers were prin- 
cipally from North Killingworth, 
Conn. The first birth was a child 



NEW-HAMPSHTRE GAZETTEER. 



201 



of Jesse Wilcox and wife, which 
died in a few days. There are 
here three churches, one congrega 
tional. and two baptist. The con 
gregational church was gathered in 
1779. Rev. John Remelee was 
ordained Jan. 1783; dismissed Feb, 
1791. Rev. Abijah Wines was 
ordained Jan. 1795; dismissed Nov. 
1816. Rev. James R. Wheelock 
ordained Dec. 2, 1818; dismissed 
1823. The congregational society 
have recently erected an elegant 
meeting house,which was dedicated 
March 13, 1823. The first baptist 
church was formed in 1779. Rev 
Biel Ledoyt was settled in 1791 ; 
dismissed in 1805. Rev. Thomas 
Brosvn, settled 1806 ; dismissed in 
1813. Rev. Elisha Hutchinson suc- 
ceeded Mr. Brown. Rev. Solomon 
Howe was then called to the care 
of one church ; and, in 1823, Rev. 
Ira Persons was called to the care 
of the other. Pop. 1679. 

Newtown, township, Rocking- 
ham county, 40 miles from Concord 
and 27 from Portsmouth, is in lat. 
42° 51', and bounded N. by Kings- 
ton, E. by South-Hampton, S. by 
Massachusetts, W. by Plaistow, 
and comprises 5,250 acres. Near- 
ly one third of Country pond lies 
in Newtown, and two other small 
ponds connect by outlets with its 
waters. The soil produces good 
crops of grain or grass. Joseph 
Bartlett first settled in this town in 
1720, and was scon joined by sev-j 
«ral others. Twelve years previous 
to his settlement here, Bartlett was ; 
taken prisoner by the Indians at I 
Haverhill, and remained a captive j 
in Canada about four years. Rev. 
Jona. Eames was settled here in 
1759; removed in 1791; died at 
Wentworth in 1300. The baptist 
church at Newtown is the oldest of 
that denomination in this state. 
Rev. Walter Powers was settled | 
S2 



here in 1755, when that church v.as 
f^atnered. Rev. John Pe^k suc- 
ceeded him in 1795, who was re- 
moved in 1802. Rev. David 
Teu'ksoury was ordained in 1813. 
There are methodist and free-will 
baptist societies here. Pop. 477. 

NoRTHFiELD, post-town, lat.43« 
25', in the N. W. corner of Rock- 
ingham county, is bounded N. by 
WinnepisiopTpr river, which divide's 
it from Sanbi luton ; E. by Gilman- 
ton, S. by Canterbury, W. by the 
Merrimack, which separates it from 
Salisbury and Boscawen; and con- 
tains about 20,000 acres of land 
and water. The soil here is i;i some 
parts good — that of the best quality 
lies on the two ridges extending 
through the town. Chcsnut pond 
lies in the E. part of the tou n, and 
its waters flow into the Winnepisi©' 
gee three miles from its junction 
with the Pemigewasset. Sondogar- 
dy pond is in the S. patt of the town, 
and flows into the Merimack. At 
the N. W. part of thr town, near 
Webster's falls, the Winnepi-^icgee 
falls into the Pemigev/asset, and the 
united streams form the Merrimack 
river. The princip-.I elevation, call- 
ed Bean Hill, separates the town 
from Canterbury. The first settle- 
ment was made. r:ere in 1760 by 
Benjamin Blancl^rrd and otiiers. 
Here is a meeting house, open to 
all denominations A methodist 
church was form ;d iiere in 1806 ; 
and there are some c^ngregational- 
ists and baptists. There is a val- 
uable paper-raii; e-.rablished by 
Messrs. Crane &;??cbody; also a 
woollen fiicwry, ?.nd several mills. 
An extensive cotton factory has 
been recently erected, and promises 
much usefulness. Northfield was ^ 
incorporated June 19, 1780, and 
has 1304 inhabitants. 

North c p Lat. 45°, is a tract 
belonginijto tne state of N. H. ex- 



202 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



tenJing to the British possessions in 
L. Canada. It was surveyed in 1805, 
and contains 160,363 acres. Lake 
Connecticut and several considera- 
ble ponds are situated within this 
tract ; and numerous streams from 
the mountains unite with the main 
branches of the Connecticut. 

North-Hampton, a township, 
in Rockingham co., lat. 42° 59', for- 
merly constituting the parish called 
JYorth-HUl, in Hampton, is bound- 
ed N. by Greenland, E. by Rye and 
the sea, S. by Hampton, and W. by 
Stratham. It is 50 miles from Con- 
cord, and contains 8,465 acres. — 
Here are two small rivers — Little 
river rises in the low grounds in the 
N. part of the town, and after run 
ning S. E. one or two miles, takes 
an E. course, falling into the sea 
between Little Boar's Head in this 
town and Great Boar's Head in 
Hampton. The mouth of this river 
was ancientlythe boundarybefween 
Hampton and Portsmouth. Winni- 
cut river/ rises near the centre of 
the town, and passes N. W. through 
Stratham and Greenland into Great 
Bay. The first settlements com- 
menced early. The first meeting- 
house was built in 1738, and Nov. 
17th, of this year, the inhabitants 
were made a distinct parish, by the 
general court. Nov. 26, 1742, the 
town was incorporated. Rev. Na- 
thaniel Gookin, son of Mr. Gookin 
of Hampton, and father of Judge 
Daniel Gookin, was ordained here 
Oct. 31, 1739 ; died Oct. 22, 1766, 
set. 53. The present meeting-house 
was erected in 1761. Rev. Joseph 
S. Hastings was ordained Feb. 11, 
1767 ; removed July 3, 1774. Rev. 
David M'Clure, D. D. ordained No- 
vember 13, 1776, resigned Aug. 30, 
1785. Rev. Benjamin Thurston, 
ordained Nov. 2, 1785, was dismis- 
sed Oct. 27, 1800. Rev. Jonathan 
French was settled Nov, 18, 1801. 



There is an incorporated baptist so- 
ciety ; also a female charitable so- 
ciety, and an incorporated social 
library. Maj. Gen. Henry Dear- 
born, now American minister at 
Portugal, was born here Feb. 12, 
1750. Rev. Henry Alline, an ec- 
centric clergyman, from Nova-Sco- 
tia, died here Feb. 2, 1784, a?ed 35. 
In the early periods of the settle- 
ment, the people were annoyed by 
the Indians. Garrisons were erect- 
ed, to which during periods of dan- 
ger the inhabitants resorted. About 
1677, several persons were killed 
within the limits of this town. The 
number of deaths from 1801 to 1821, 
was 224 ; l)aptisms 200. Pop. 764. 

North river has its sources in 
Northwood and Nottingham, and 
passes S. E. through Nottingham, a 
part of Lee, and unites with Lam- 
prey river near the N. E. corner of 
Epping. 

Northumberland, township, 
Coos CO., in lat. 44° 33', is bounded 
S. W. by Lancaster, S. by Piercy, 
N. E. by Stratford, W. by Guild- 
hall and Maidstone, Vt. This town 
is 130 miles from Concord. The 
soil along the Connecticut is very 
productive,perfectly free from stone 
and gravel, and originally covered 
with a growth of butternut. A por- 
tion of the upland is also good, and 
covered with pine, spruce, fir, ash, 
maple, &c. Cape Horn, an abrupt 
mountain of 1000 feet in height, 
lies near the centre of the town. 
Its N. base is separated from the 
Connecticut by a narrow plain, and 
the Upper Amonoosuck passes near 
its E. base, as it falls into the Con- 
necticut. Here the meadows are 
extensive, and are annually cover- 
ed by the spring floods, presenting 
the appearance of an inland sea. 
At the falls in the Connecticut, 
below the mouth of the Amonoo- 
suck, a handsome bridge connects 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



203 



Northumberland with Guildhall. A 
dam is also thrown across the river 
at this place, at both ends of whicl 
grain and saw mills are erected. 
On the Northumberland side, are 
a clothing mill and carding ma 
chine. The court-house for Essex 
county, Vt. stands on the N. side of 
the falls, and on both sides are small 
villages. The first settlers weie 
Thos. Burnside and Daniel SpaukI 
ing, with their families — who mov- 
ed into town in June, 1767. The 
meeting-house stands on a plain N. 
of Cape Horn mountain. There 
is no settled minister. Near the 
river, on this plain, a small foit was 
erected during the revolutionar} 
war, and placed in the command of 
Capt. Jeremiah Eames, afterwards 
well known for his usefulness, and 
the wit and pleasantry of his con- 
versation. Northumberland was in- 
corporated Nov. 16, 1779. Pop. 300. 
NoRTHWOOD, post township, in 
Rockingham county, lat. 43° 12', 
is bounded N. E. by Strafford, S. E. 
by Nottingham, S. and S. W. by 
Deerfield, N. W. by Epsom and 
Pittsfield. It is 18 miles from Con- 
cord, 20 from Exeter, 24 from Ports- 
mouth,and contains 17,075 acres of 
land and water. There are 6 ponds 
in this town — Suncook pond, 750 
rods long,100wide; Jenness' pond, 
300 rods long,l 50 wide ; Long pond, 
about 300 rods long, 50 wide ; Har- 
vey's pond, of an elliptical form, 
200 rods long, from 40 to 80 wide ; 
a part of Great Bow poiad is also in 
this town, and a part of North riv- 
er pond ; Pleasant pond, and Little 
Bow pond, the latter having two 
outlets : the waters passing N. E. 
into Great Bow pond, the head of 
Isinglass river ; and N. W. into 
Long pond, the waters thence pas- 
sing through Suncook pond and riv- 
er into the Merrimack. The north 
branch of Lamprey river has its 



rise in this town near Saddleback 
mountain, a high ridgt betvi et n this 
town and Deerfield. On the E. side 
of this ridge are found crystals and 
crystalline spars of various colors 
and sizes. Graphite exists in small 
quantities, but of good, quality. This 
town iias an elevated site, and rom- 
mands a distant and varied pros- 
I ect. The waters flowing from the 
iarm of Jonathan Clarke, Esq. fall 
into three different rivers, the Sun- 
cook, Lamprey and Isinglass rivers. 
The soil of this town is generally 
moist, and well suited to grazing. — 
The N. H. turnpike passes in a 
direct course from E. toW. 8 miles 
through this town. Northwood was 
originally a part of Nottingham and 
was settled March, 25, 1763, by 
Moses Godfrey, John Bachelder, 
Increase Bachelder, from North- 
Hampton. Solomon Bickford and 
family from Durham, followed in 
December. His son, Solomon, was 
the first child born in Northw ood. — 
Feb. 6, 1773, the town was incorpo- 
rated. Rev. Edmund Pillshury, 
the first minister,was ordained ov^r 
the baptist church, Nov. 17, 1779, 
and continued to preach about 18 
years. The congregational meet- 
ing-house was erected in 1781 ; and 
on the 29th May, 1799, Rev. Jo- 
siah Prentice was ordained. The 
baptist church was without a pastor 
from Mr. Pillsbury's secession 
until Dec. 30, 1805, when Rev. El- 
phalet Merrill was ordained. On- 
ly one native of Northwood (Rev. 
John L. Blake, who graduated at 
Brown University in 1812) has re- 
ceived a collegiate educaticai. The 
late Jonathan Clarke, Esq. was one 
of the first settlers, and a member 
of the legislature. Pop. 1260. 
Notch. .See JVhite Mountains, 
Nottingham, post-town, Rock- 
ngham county, in lat. 43° 07' is 
25 miles from Concord, 20 from 



204 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Portsmouth, 55 from Boston, and is 
bounded N. E. by Bavrington, S. E. 
by Lee and part of Epping, S. by 
Epping and Raymond, and W. by 
Deerfield and Northwood, compris- 
ing 25,800 acres, of which SOU are 
water. There are several ponds in 
this town, mostly of small size. — 
Little river and several other 
streams rise here ; and North river 
passes through the town. The soil 
of this town is in many parts good, 
though the surface is rough and 
broken. Several mountains extend 
along the W. part of the town 
forming parts of the range called 
Blue Hills. JSTottingham Square 
is a pleasant village on an elevated 
site, having a meeting-house, post- 
office, public houses, stores, &c 
The N. H. turnpike road passes 
through the N. part of this town. — 
Bog iron ore is found here in great 
quantities ; and it is said inexhau 
tible masses of mountain ore exist 
in the mountains. Crystals and 
crystalline spars are found here ; 
and tdso ochres in small quantities. 
Nottingham was incorporated May 
10, 1722, and settled in 1727, by 
Capt. Joseph Cilley and others.— 
A congregational church was form- 
ed, and Rev. Stephen Emery settled 
in 1742, who continued but a few 
years. Rev. Benjamin Butler suc- 
ceeded in 1758, and was dismissed 
Aug. 1, 1770, at his own request. 
The church has since been vacant. 
Rev. Mr. Butler was afterwards a 
civil magistrate until his death, 26th 
December, 1804. Elder Samuel B. 
Dyer was some time pastor of the 
freewill baptist society. During the 
last Indian war, in" 1752, a Mr. 
Beard, Mrs. Folsom and Mrs. Simp- 
son, wife of Andrew Simpson, were 
killed by the Indians. They had 
left the garrison to attend to some 
business at their houses, situated at 
a short distance, whf;re they were 



surprised and put to death. Gen. 
Joseph Cilley, son of one of the 
early settlers, entered the army of 
the revolution at its commencement 
and commanded the 1st N. H. regi- 
ment. He was distinguished for 
bravery and patriotism during the 
whole contest. After the liberties 
of the country were secured, he 
was several times elected represen- 
tative, senator and counsellor: and 
died in Aug. 1799, aged 65. Hon. 
Thos. Bartlett was an active 
revolutionary patriot ; one of the 
committee of safety ; It. col. under 
Stark at the capture of Burgoyne ; 
commanded a regiment at West- 
Point in 1780, when the treachery 
of Arnold betrayed that post. Afte'r 
the close of the war, he was speak- 
er of the house, and a justice of the 
common pleas ; and died June 30, 
1807, aged 59. Gen.HEJVRT Bttt- 
LER, was an officer in the army of 
the revolution, major-general of mi- 
litia, justice of the peace and sena- 
tor in the legislature : he died July 
20, 1813, aged 62. Descendants of 
these revolutionary worthies now 
live in town. Nottingham has been 
a very healthy town, and many in- 
dividuals have lived to a great age. 
The mountainous parts of the towr» 
were formerly the haunts of beasts 
of prey — the fox and wild cat only 
remain. Rattlesnakes still infest 
the mountains. Pop. 1126. 

Nottingham-West, a post- 
township, in Hillsborough county, 
in lat. 42° 44', is bounded N. by 
Litchfield and Londonderry, E. by 
Windham and Pelham,S. by Tyiigs 
borough in Mass.^ and W. by Mer- 
rimack river, which separates it 
from Dunstable, containing 17,379 
acres. It is 17 miles from Amherst, 
39 from Boston, and 38 from Con- 
cord. The land here is of easy cul- 
tivation. On the river are fine in- 
tervals, of a deep rich soil, produ- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



205 



cmg in great exuberance and plen- 
ty. Distant from the river, the land 
is hilly and somewhat broken. The 
forest trees are oak and pine, with 
some walnut, birch, maple and hem- 
lock. There are two ponds, known 
by the name of Little Massal.esick 
and Otternick ponds. The former 
is situated in the N. E. part, and 
contains about 200 acres. Otter- 
nick, in the W. part of the town, 
between the N. meeting-house and 
the river, contains about 80 acres. 
A small stream issues fiom the last 
which runs into the Merrimack. 
There are two libraries in this town. 
Nottingham-West was included in 
the grant of Dunstable, and was 
settled as early as 1710. Some of 
the early names were Blodget, 
Winn, Lovewell, Colburn, Hill, 
Greeley, Cross, Cumings, Pollard, 
Marsh and Merrill. The first set- 
tlements were made on the banks 
of the river, where the Indians 
had cleared fields for cultivating 
corn. The first inhabitants lived 
in garrisons. While the men were 
abroad in the fields and forests, the 
women and children were lodged 
in these places of security. Few In- 
dians were found here when the 
settlement was effected, but they 
frequently made their visits to this 
place in time of peace ; and once 
in a time of war, they took a man 
by the name of Cross, who was 
employed in collecting turpentine, 
and carried him to Canada, where 
be remained a prisoner till he was 
ransomed by his friends. Near 
the Indian cornfields, have been 
found cinders of a blacksmith's 
forge, which have led to the con- 
jecture that they employed a smith 
to manufacture their implements 
of war and agriculture. Notting- 
ham-West was incorporated July 
5, 1746. An addition to its territo- 
ry from Londonderry, was made 



by act of the general court, March 
6, 1778. A congregational church 
was formed Nov. 30, 1737, aad on 
the same day, Rev. Nathaniel 
Merrill was ordained, whose re- 
lation to the church continued till 
his death in 1796, though his civil 
contract was dissolved in 1774. 
Rev. Jabez Pond Fisher succeeded 
Mr. Merrill; was ordained Feb. 
24, 1796, and dismissed May, 1801. 
A presbyterian church was organi- 
zed in 1771. Rer. John Strick- 
land was ordained July 13, 1774, 
and after a few years \Tas dismis- 
sed. A baptist church was formed 
\n 1805, over which Rev. Daniel 
Merrill ofiiciated from 1814 to 1819. 
In 1816, the congregational church 
changed their form of government 
and united with the presbyterians. 
Pop. 1227. 

o. 

Oliver,ian river, in Grafton 
county, is formed of two branches, 
both having their sources in Coven- 
try—the E. branch from the W. 
side of Moosehillock mountain, and 
the N. branch from Owl head moun- 
tain. These branches unite near 
the E. line of Haverhill, and the 
main stream pursues nearly a W. 
course through the S. part of the 
town, and falls into Connecticut 
river above Bedel's bridge. 

Orange, a township in Grafton 
county, in lat. 43° 39', is bounded 
N. E. by Groton, E. by Alexandria, 
S. W. by Grafton and W. by Ca- 
naan and Dame's Gore, containing 
by the survey of 1805, about 22,000 
acres. In 1820, nearly one third 
of its territory was annexed to Al- 
exandria. It is 16 miles E. from 
Dartmouth college and 40 from 
Concord. In this town are founrl 
many mineral substances, such as 
lead ore', iron ore, &c. There is 



206 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



in the S. E. part a small pond, in 
which is found a species of paint 
resembling spruce yellow. Chalk, 
intermixed with magnesia, is said4 
to be procured from the same pond. 
In 1810, a valuable species of ochre 
was discovered. It is found in 
great abundance, deposited in veins, 
and of a quality superior to the im- 
ported. Large quantities of it are 
annually prepared for market. One 
man will dig and refine about 50 lbs. 
in a day. Clay of an excellent 
quality is also abundant. The sur- 
face of Orange is uneven. The 
soil in many paits productive. Car- 
digan mountain lies in the E. part 
of the town. On the W. side of this 
mountain was formerly a pest house 
where hundreds were inoculated 
for the small pox. Grafton turn- 
pike passes through the S. W. part 
to Orford. Orange was granted by 
the name of Cardigan, Feb. 6, 1769, 
to Isaac Fellows and others. Its 
settlement commenced in 1773-4. 
Silas Harris, Benjamin Shaw, Dav- 
id Eames, Col. Elisha Bayne and 
Capt. Joseph Kenney were the 
first inhabitants. Pop. 300. 

Orford, a post-township in 
Grafton county, in lat. 43° 53', is 
bounded N. by Piermont, E. by 
Wentworth, S. by Lime, and W. 
by Fairlee, Vt. containing 27,000 
acres. It lies on Connecticut river, 
over which is a bridge, connecting 
this town with Fairlee. Orford is 
10 miles below Haverhill, 17 N. of 
Hanover, 60 from Concord and 120 
from Boston. The soil is generally 
of a fertile character. The large in- 
terval farms, watered by the Con- 
necticut, are particularly distin- 
guished for their beauty and fertili- 
ty. There are two considerable 
elevations, called Mount Cuba and 
Mount Sunday, lying near the cen- 
tre of the town. There are 4 or 5 
ponds of considerable size, one of 



which, called Baker's upper pond, 
lies within 3 or 4 miles of Connec- 
ticut river, and about the same dis- 
tance W. of the height of land. E. of 
the river. This pond discharges 
its waters into another pond, lying 
partly in Wentworth, and the 
waters of both empty into Baker's 
river, near the meeting house in 
Wentworth. Indian pond lies about 
1 mile W. of Baker's upper pond, 
the waters of which pass to the 
Connecticut, only 2 or 3 miles dis- 
tant, offering much the cheapest and 
most feasible opening for connect- 
ing the waters of the Connecticut 
and Merrimack. Limestone, or the 
carbonate of lime, is found in great 
abundance. It is of the primitive 
kind, coarse grained, and forms a 
strong and hard cement, multiplying 
more in slaking and requiring a 
larger proportion of sand than any 
other heretofore used. It is found 
at the foot of a mountain about 400 
or 500 feet above Connecticut river. 
The soap rock, or, as it is more 
generally called, cotton stone, is 
found here in great abundance. A 
light grey granite rock, much used 
for mill stones and for building, is 
found in various places. Galena, 
or lead ore, of a very fine texture, 
containing needles of crystallized 
quartz, or lead, has been recently 
found, in considerable quantities in 
sinking a well. Orford contains a 
pleasant village, situated on the 
main road. " It is built on a beau- 
tiful plain bordered by interval on 
the W. The hills on both sides of 
the river, near the centre of the ex- 
pansion, approach eack other so as 
to form a kind of neck ; and with a 
similar approximation at the two 
ends, give the whole the appear- 
ance of a double amphitheatre, or 
of the numerical figure 8. The 
greatest breadth of each division is 
about 1 1-2 miles ; and the length of 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



207 



each between 2 and 3 miles." The 
houses stand principally on a single 
street, of 2 or 3 miles in extent. 
There are 2 congregational meeting 
houses, one in the village, the other 
near the centre of the town. The 
Orford social library was incorpor- 
ated June 16, 1797, and contains 
200 volumes. Orford was granted 
Sept. 25, 1761, to Jonathan Moul- 
ton and others. In June, 1765, a 
Mr. Cross, with his family from 
Lebanon, first settled in this town. 
In Oct. the same year. Gen. Israel 
Morey, John Mann, Esq and a Mr. 
Caswell, with their families, from 
Connecticut, began settlements. A 
congregational church was gather- 
ed Aug. 27, 1770, then consisting 
of 22 meaybers. Rev. Oliver Noble, 
who graduated at Princeton college, 
was ordained Nov. 5, 1771; dis- 
missed Dec. 31, 1777, Rev. John 
Sawyer, who graduated at Dart- 
mouth college in 1785, was ordain- 
ed Oct. 22, 1787 ; dismissed Dec. 
1795. Rev. Sylvester Dana, who 
graduated at Yale college in 1797, 
was ordained May 20, 1801 ; dis- 
missed April 30, 1822. Rev. James 
D. Farnsworth was ordained Jan. 
1, 1823. A new congregational 
church, called the W. church, was 
formed April 30, 1822, and Rev. 
Sylvester Dana was installed Feb. 
19, 1823. There is also a metho- 
dist church, which has existed about 
12 years. Pop. 1568. 

OS!*iPEE, post-township, Straf- 
ford county, in lat. 43^ 42', is houn- 
ded N. by Tamworth, E. and N. E. 
by Effingham, S. E. by Wakefield, 
S. W. and W. by Wolfeborough, 
Tuftonborough, and Moultonbo- 
rough, N. W. by a corner of Sand- 
wich. Ossipee mountain, a rougli 
and broken range, lies in the N. W. 
part of Ossipee, extending into the 
adjoining towns. It is 6 or 8 miles 
in length, and is so elevated, that 



in E. storms the winds break over 
the summits, frequently causing 
much injury to the farms, &c. at 
its base. Ossipee lake is partly 
m this town and Effingham : it is a 
fine body of water of an oval form, 
covering about 7000 acres having 
p.o island, and its waters clear and 
i)cautiful. Ossipee river flows from 
this lake, forming the bays E. of the 
lake, from whence it passes through 
Effingham into the Saco in Maine. 
Pine river passes through the E, 
part of Ossipee, and Bearcamp riv- 
er falls into the lake on the N. W. 
There are several ponds in Ossipee, 
the largest of which lies partly in 
Tuftonborough, and is about 400 
rods long. Bear pond in the S. £. 
part, has no visible outlet. On the 
farm of Mr. Smith, near the W. 
shore of Ossipee lake, is a mound 
of earth 45 or 50 feet in diameter, 
of a circular form, and about 10 
feet high, from which have been 
taken several entire skeletons, and 
also tomahawks, &c. exhibiting the 
strongest evidence that the tribe 
once so powerful in this vicinity 
had their principal residence here. 
(See description of this mound, &c. 
Hist. Coll. for 1823, p. 45.) Ossi- 
pee was incorporated Feb. 22, 
1785 \ has 2 meeting-houses, sev- 
eral stores, mechanics, &c. There 
is a society of methodists here, but 
no settled minister. Pop. 1793. 

Ossipee Gore, a township,was 
annexed to Effingham, Dec. 23, 
1820. 

Ossipee mountain. See Ossi- 
pee. ■ 

Oyster river. See Durham. 

P. 

Parker's island, in Connec- 
ticut river, at Hanover, contains 
20 acres. 

PASCATAauA, the only large 
river whose entire course is in 



208 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



New-Hampshire, is foruied by the 
junction of several small streams 
in a wide aiid deep bed ; hollowed 
out^artlyby them, and portly by 
the ti-'e. Tiie names »f these 
streams, beginning at the N. E.; are 
Salmon-Fall, Cocheco, Bellamy 
bank, Oyster, Lamprey,Squamscot, 
and Winnicut rivers. The five 
last unite their waters in a large 
and irregular bay between Durham 
and Greenland, more resembling a 
lake than a river. The waters of 
this bay meet those of Saimou-Fall 
and Cocheco rivers, coming from 
tiie N. W. at Hilton's point, a few 
miles below Dover. After this 
junction, they proceed in a direct 
line to the S. E. ; and join the 
ocean 2 or 3 miles below Ports- 
mouth; embosoming several isl- 
ands, and forming one of the best 
harbors on the continent. Few riv- 
ers make a more magnificent ap- 
pearance than this ; yet the streams 
by vvhich it is supplied are small. 
Sahnon-Fall furnishes more than 
all tlie rept. This stream is called 
JVewichawannock from the falls in 
Berwick till it receives the waters 
of the Cocheco ; but the name of 
Pascataqua ought to be applied to 
the whole of Salraon-Fali river. 

PASCATAauA harbor. See Ports- 
mouth. 

PAXJi>SBURGH,a township in Coos 
county.in lat. 44° 30', is 139 miles 
from Concord, and about 22 from 
Lancaster ; bounded N. by Dum- 
mer and Cambridge, E. by Success, 
S. by Maynesborough, W. by Kil- 
kcmvv and Winslow's location. 
This tract was granted Dec. 31, 
1771, to the -^rantees of Maynes- 
borough, Sir William Mayne and 
others, and contains 31,154 acres. 
The Up|)er Araonoosuck and Am- 
eriscoggin rivers pass through this 
town. There are several ponds. 



and some considerable mountains. 
The town, however, is not very 
mountainous, and has some low 
lands. There are at present but 
15 families. 

Peabody river has its source in 
the E. pass of the White Moun- 
tains, near the head springs of El- 
lis' river, a branch of the Saco ; 
and passes N. into the Ameriscog- 
gin. 

Peaks, names of mountains. 
See Stratford. 

Peeling, township, in Graf- 
ton county, in lat. 44°, is bounded 
N. by Lincoln, E. by Thornton, S. 
by Thornton and Ellsworth, and 
W. by Warren, Coventry and Lan- 
daff, containing 33,359 acres. It 
is 20 miles from Plymouth, and 60 
from Concord. Pemigewasset pas- 
ses through its E. section. The 3 
branches of this river unite in the 
N. part of Peeling, There are sev- 
eral brooks and rivulets which sup- 
ply this ijlace with a number of 
mill privileges. The ponds are 
Elbow pond, near the centre, Rus- 
[sell's pond, in the E., and M'Lel- 
lan's pond in the S. E. part of this 
jtown. Hills and mountahis, inter- 
Ispersed with valleys, give some va- 
riety to the surface. Cushman's 
mountain in the S. W., Black 
mountain in tlie N. W. and Blue 
mountain in tne W. are the high- 
est elevations. Among these moun- 
tains, branches of the Wild Amon- 
oosuck and Baker's rivers and 
Moosehillock brook, have their 
sources. On the last stream, there 
is a beautiful cascade. There are 
here two springs, which have been 
termed medicinal. Peeling was 
granted to Eli Demeritt, Sept. 23, 
1763. Its name was afterwards 
altered to Fairfield, and from that 
to Peeling again. It was settled 
about 1773, by John Riant and oth- 
ers. Lindsey, Osgood, Barron^- 



NEWIIAMPSHIRE OAZETTEER. 



109 



Russell, and Bickford, were aiTiong 
the early settlern. Tliere is a bap 
tist society, to which Mr. Thomas 
Whipple has occasionally mini 
tered. Pop. 224. 

Pelham, post-township, at t|he 
S. W. corner of Rockingham coan- 
ty, in lat. 42° 43', is bounded N. by 
Windham and Salem, E., S. E. 
and S. by the state of Mas^rxhu- 
setts, W. by Nottingham- West ; 
is distant 37 miles from Concord, 
45 from Portsmouth and 32 from 
Boston, and contains 16,338 acres. 
Here are 3 ponds, called Gumpas, 
Island and North ponds. Island 
pond is the largest, containing 178 
acres. 30 acres of Long pond are 
in Pelham, the remainder in the 
N. W. corner of Dracut. Beaver 
river passes through the town, a 
little E. of the meeting-house. On 
this river and the tributary streams, 
there is much valuable meadow ; 
adjoining which are pine lands of 
an excellent quality for grain, and 
especially rye. To the E. and W. 
is hilly land, good for grazing, or- 
charding and the growth of timber, 
particularly oak. This land is of 
a strong soil, and richl}' repays cul- 
tivation. Beside other mills, here 
is a woollen factory; and 8 or 10 
tons of nails are annually cut here 
But the inhabitants depend princi- 
pally on agriculture for the means 
of support. Much timber and 
cord-wood are carried annually to 
the banks of the Merrimack, and 
thence conveyed to Newburyport, 
or to Boston through Middlesex- 
canal. Pelham was included in 
Wheelwright's purchase and in 
Mason's patent. Although within 
about 30 miles of the-Gapital of New- 
England, no settlements v/ere here 
made during the first century after 
the landing'at Plymouth. The first 
.?ettlements were made in 1722, by 
John Butler, William Richardson 



land others. William Richardson 
|\v -s grandfather of the Hon. judge 
(Richardson ; was a native of 
IChelmsford, where he was born 
Sept. 19, 1701. The town was in- 
corporated July 5, 1746, about 5 
years after the state line was es- 
tablished, by wiiich a part was sep- 
arated from Dracut. The first 
hotise for public worship was built 
in 1747. Rev. James Hobbs was 
ordained Nov. 13, 1751, and at the 
same time a church was formed. 
Mr. Hobbs died June 20, 1765, aged 
40 : he \vas a native of Hampton, 
and graduated at Harvard College, 
1748. Rev. Amos Moody was or- 
dained Nov. 20, 1765, and dismis- 
sed by mutual agreement in 1792 : 
he was born in Newbury, Ms. Nov. 
20, 1739, graduated at Harvard, 
1759— died March 22, 1819. Some 
years previous to Mr. Moody's dis- 
mission, the town became divided 
into two societies ; another house 
for public worship was erected,and 
several candidates employed to 
preach. But after his dismission 
the town again united in one soci- 
ety. Rev. John H. Church was 
ordained Oct. 31, 1798. There is 
a social library in Pelham, incor- 
porated in 1797, with about 200 
vols. Pop. 1040. 

Pembroke, a post-town, Rock- 
ingham county, in lat. 43° 10', lies 
60 miles N. W. from Boston, 6 S. 
E. from Concord. It is bounded 
W. by Merrimack river, N. W. by 
Soucook river, whicli separates it 
from Concord, N. E. and E. by 
Chicliester and Epsom, S. E. by 
Suncook liver, dividing the town 
from AUenstown ; and contains 
10,240 acres. This town is gener- 
ally well watered. The Suncook 
on the S. E. boundary, furnishes 
many valuabl* water privileges ; 
and on the Soucook, are situated 
4 paper mills, the cotton factory of 



210 



NEW.HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Maj. Stark, and several mills, to- 
gether with a flourishing village. 
The public roads are mostly laid 
out in right angles, dividing the 
territory into squares. The main 
street extends nearly on a parallel 
with Merrimack river in a straight 
course about 3 miles, and is very 
pleasant. On this are situated the 
academy, one of the meeting-hou- 
ses, and the principal village. Pem- 
broke has a variety of soils, most- 
ly very productive. On the rivers 
are small but valuable tracts of in- 
terval, and from these the land ri- 
ses in extensive and beautiful 
swells, yielding in abundance when 
properly cultivated. The public 
buildings are a town house, two 
meeting-houses, and the academy, 
founded by the liberal donation of 
the late Dr. Abel Blanchard. It is 
situated on the main street, and is 
one of the most flourishing insti- 
tutions of the kind in New-Hamp- 
shire. Pembroke is the ancient 
Suncook of the Indians. It was 
granted by this name in May, 1727, 
by the government of Massachu- 
setts, to Capt. John Lovewell, and 
his brave associates, in con side i^a- 
ticn of their services against the 
Indians. The whole number of 
grantees .vris 60 ; 46 of whom ac 
companied Lovewell in his last 
march to Pcqu?>wkett — the remain- 
ing 13 were aiaong the 62 who at- 
tended him in his first enterprizes 
against Jhe Indians. The first -w . ■ 
vey was made in 1728; and in tb* 
following year settlements were 
commenced by several of the gran- 
tees. Tlie settlements increased 
slowly, in consequence of the fre- 
quent alarms from the Indians, who 
committed many depredations up- 
on their property. .Tames Car*, 
killed May },n4:8,{SeeAllen£tovm,) 
was the only inhabitant who lost 
his life by the Indians, The first 



child born in Pembroke was 
Ephraim Moore. This town was 
interested in the long dispute main- 
tained by the proprietors of Bow 
against the grantees of lands in this 
vicinity. Nov. 1, 1759, the town 
was incorporated by its present 
name. As the original settlers 
were composed of persons ©f Scotch 
and English descent, foundations 
were early laid for presbyterian 
and congregational churches. The 
congregational church was organ- 
ized March 1, 1737; and Rev. 
Aaron Whitteraore, of Concord, 
Ms. who graduated at Harvard 
college in 1734, was settled. He 
died Nov. 16,1767,aged 55. No re- 
cord exists of the organization 
of the presbyterian church ; but 
Rev. Daniel Mitchell, a native of 
Ireland, educated at Edinburgh, 
was ordained Dec. 3, 1760, and 
died Dec. 15, 1776, aged 69. Rev. 
•lacob Emery, a native of Ando- 
ver, Ms. who graduated at Har- 
vard college in 1761, succeeded 
Mr. Whittemore in the congrega- 
r'onal church, Aug. 3, 1768; and 
was dismissed March 23, 1775. 
Both churehes were vacant from 
the death of Mr. Mitchell until the 
ordina+ion of Rev. Zacciieus Colby, 
March 22, 1780 — soon after which 
the two churches were united. Mr. 
Colby was a native of Newtown ; 
inaduated at Dartmouth college, 
1777 ; and was dismissed May 11, 
1803. From this time to 1808, the 
'hurch was vacant. March 2,1808, 
Rfv. Abraham Bu-nhavi, a native 
cf Dunbarton, graduated at Dart- 
mouth college in 1804, was ordain- 
ed over a newly organized cliurch, 
of 54 rneraberi,, whicii has since 
increased to more tha . 170. There 
-^re several religious, charitable 
l.md literary societies, which are 
annually extending their beneficial 
'influence. Pop. 1256. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



211 



PemigewASSET river. This 
stream and the Winnepisiogee con- 
stitute the Merrimack. It is form- 
ed of three principal branches hav- 
ing their sources in Peeling, Fran- 
conia, and the ungranted lands S. 
W. of the White Mountains. 
Tirese branches unite in Peeling, 
from whence the main stream passes 
in a S. direction through Thornton, 
Campton, between Plymouth and 
Holderness ; Bridgewater, Bristol 
and New-Hampton ; New-Chester, 
Andover, and Sanbornton, and the 
S. W. part of Sanbornton and the 
N. part of Salisbury, where it unites 
with Winnepisiogee river, and the 
main stream becomes the Merri- 
mack. From Campton to the S., 
the towns that lie on the E. of 
Pemigewasset river, ate Holder- 
ness New-Hampton and Sanborn- 
ton; on the W., Plymoutb,Bridge- 
water, Bristol, New-Chester, Ando- 
ver and Salisbury. 

PEauAwKETT, written by Bel- 
knap, Pigwacket, and by Sullivan 
Pickwocket, but the true orthogra- 
phy is found to be Pe-quaw-kett ; 
an Indian name applied to a coa- 
siderable tract of country, now in- 
eluding Conway, Fryeburg and 
some of the adjacent towns. It 
is also the name of a river flowing 
into the Saco, from two ponds in 
Eaton ; and of a mountain between 
Bartlett and Chatham, formerly 
called Kearsarge. 

Peterborough, a post-town, 
in Hillsborough county, in lat. 42° 
62', is bounded N. by Hancock and 
Greenfield, E. by Greenfield and 
Temple, S. by Sharon, and W. by 
Jaflfrey and Dublin, containing 23,- 
780 acres. It lies midway between 
Amherst and Keene, being 20 miles 
from each. It is 75 miles from 
Portsmouth, 60 from Boston, 40 
from Concord, and 510 from Wash- 
ington city. Peterborough lies in 



a N. E. direction from the Grand 
Monadnock, and is bounded on the 
E. by a chain of hills called Pack 
Monadnock. Contoocook river 
runs in a N. E. and N. direction 
through the centre of the town, af- 
fording several good privileges for 
mills and factories. The N. branch, 
from Dublin.originating partly from 
waters near the Monadnock and 
partly from Long, or Hunt's pond, 
lying in Nelson and Hancock, af- 
fords a never failing supply of wa- 
ter, and furnishes those noble falls, 
on which are situated several fac- 
tories, and particularly the long 
known mills and factories of Hon. 
Samusi Smith. There are exten- 
sive and valuable meadows on this 
branch above these falls; and the 
soil generally throughout the town 
is excellent. The forests in the vi- 
cinity of the S. branch of the Con- 
toocook, were composed of large 
and lofty pines ; the hills on the E. 
crowned with majestic oaks ; and 
the intermediate lands principally 
clothed with hard wood and other 
valuable timber. In the centre of 
the town is a high hill, on which 
is situated the meeting-house, at 
an elevation of 200 feet above the 
river. The chain of hills on the 
E. is distinguished by two princi- 
pal summits. Between these sum- 
mits is a depression of a quarter 
part of the mountain's height. 
About 60 rods W. of the ridge, or 
summit of this depression, on an 
embenchment of the mountain, is 
a pond of about 9 acres extent, 
very deep and replenished with 
fish, at an elevation of 200 (eel 
above the site of the meeting-house. 
There is another pond near the foot 
of the southern summit of 33 acres, 
from which, during the dry season, 
there is no visible outlet. The 
southern summit terminates abrupt- 
ly at its southern extremity with 



§12 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



marks of a violent disruption, form 
ing what is termed the JS''otch in the 
mountain. The county road pas 
ses through this aperture. The 
hill rises again in Sharon ; and the 
chain, with some depressions and 
variations, continues for several 
miles. There are rocks in several 
places, which afford indications of 
sulphur, and crumble on exposure 
to the sun and air. Iron ore of an 
excellent quality has been discov- 
ered, but, as yet, in email quanti- 
ties. Besides the common medi- 
cinal plants, the Cohush, Ginseng 
and Buck bean are found here. 
The surface of this town being 
much varied with hills, vales,mead- 
ows, great swells of land, brooks 
and rivulets, while the larger 
streams are broken by falls and 
rapid in their course — the air and 
waters are pure ; the inhabitants 
remarkably healthy. No sickness 
has ever been experienced to any 
considerable extent. The first 
settlers generally attained to more 
than 80 years of age — several to 
almost a century. The oldest 
persons who have died in town, 
were Mr. John Morrison in his 
98th year, and Mrs. Cunningham 
in her 99th year. The former 
died June 14, 1776, retaining 
ihe full possessioH of his faculties 
till within a short time of his death. 
He, with his parents and family, 
was in the City, and his age 10 
years, at the famous siege of Lon- 
donderry, Ireland. The principal 
village embraces about half a mile 
in extent. Here are 3 cotton fac- 
tories, including Mr. Smith's ex- 
tensive establishment, his cotton 
factory, oil mill, fulling mill and 
paper manufactor}'. His mansion 
on the eastern side of the main 
stream, commands a pleasing view 
of the principal buildings. Two 
miles S. are situated a cotton fac- 



tory and a woollen factory. About 
the same distance N., is another 
cotton factory. Besides these, there 
are on the various streams, several 
grain and saw mills. The public 
buildings are a congregational and 
baptist meeting-house, and six 
school houses. — There is a social 
library containing a handsome se- 
lection of books. There is a bi- 
ble society, established Oct. 2,1814. 
Peterborough was granted in 1738, 
by the government of Massachu- 
setts to Samuel Heyvvood and oth- 
ers. The first settlement took 
place in 1739, by William Robbe, 
Alexander Scott, Hugh Gregg, Wil- 
liam Scott, and Samuel Slinson. 
Some of them had brought their 
families into the settlement, but 
they were compelled to retire in 
1744, on occasion of the war which 
then commenced, and did not ter- 
minate till 1748. On their return, 
a large accession of settlers from 
Lunenburg, Londonderry and other 
places joined them. In 1759,there 
were 45 families, and on the 1 7th 
Jan. the next year, the town was 
incorporated. The first settlers 
of Peterborough were Scotch pres- 
byterians, from Ireland, or their 
immediate descendants. Wholly 
unused to clearing and cultivating 
of wild lands, they endured great 
hardships. Their nearest gristmill 
was atTownsend,25 miles distant 
— their road aline of marked trees. 
The first child baptized was Cath- 
rine, daughter of Hugh Gregg, 
the now aged and venerable moth- 
er of general Miller, governor of 
Arkansaw. The first male child 
born here, was Joh)i Ritchie ; he 
was born Feb. 22, 1751, and died 
in the service of his country at 
Cambridge, in 1776. This town 
has produced a large number of 
worthy, and several highly distin- 
guished citizens. Men, who have 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



213 



ado/ned the bench, the bar and the 
pulpit, the legislature, the hall of 
congress and the chair of state, 
have been natives of this town. 
Of those who have been celebra- 
ted for their heroism, may be men- 
tioned Col, Andrew Todd, distin- 
guished in the wars of 1744 and 
1755, and Capt. William Scott, 
noted for his military enterprize in 
the French war, and in the war 
which achieved our independence. 
Of these worthy men, and of Lieut. 
William Robbe, an account may 
be seen by referring to the Collec- 
tions, published by the authors of 
this work, vol. 1, p. 134-137. The 
first settled minister was Rev. John 
Morrison, born at Pathfoot, in Scot- 
hind, May 22, 1743; graduated at 
Edinburgh, 1765 ; ordained at Pe- 
terbonugh, Nov. 26, 1766 ; resign- 
ed in March 1772 : died Dec. 10, 
1782. Rev. David Annan succee- 
ded in 1778 ; dismissed, June 1792. 
He was born at Cupar of Fife in 
Scotland, April, 1754; died in Ire- 
land in 1801. Both of these were 
presbyterians. The congregation- 
al church was embodied Oct. 23, 
1799, at v/hich time. Rev. Elijah 
Dunbar, who graduated at Harvard 
college in 1794, was ordained. 
Pop. 1500. 

Phillip's river, a considerable 
branch of the Upper Amonoosuck, 
rises in Dixvillc and Columbia, and 
after passing through Ervin's loca- 
tion, Millsfield, Dummer and Wins- 
low's location, unites with the main 
stream in Piercy. 

PlERCY, township, Coos county, 
lat. 44° 33', is situated on the Upper 
Amonoosuck river, about 3 miles 
from its mouth; bounded N. by Strat- 
ford and ungranted lands, E. and S. 
by Kilkenny, W. by Norihumber 
land — comprising about 20,000 a- 
cres. In the N. E. part of the town 
tiie N. and S. branches of the Amon- 
T2 



oosuck form a junction. Nash's 
stream, flowing from Stratford, falls 
into this river in the N. part of the 
town. Piercy 's pond lies on the 
E. side the town, the waters of 
which fall into the Upper Amon- 
oosuck in Paulsburg. The soil of 
Piercy is extremely broken and un- 
even, though in the valleys there 
are some tolerable farms. Mill 
mountain is in Piercy, and a part 
of Pilot mountain. There is also 
a singular ledge opposite Mill moun- 
tain,called the DeviVsSliding-place. 
On the S. it breaks abruptly into a 
precipice of nearly 300 feet, while 
on the N., cattle may be driven to 
the top. The settlement of this 
town commenced in 1783, by Caleb 
and Benjamin Smith ; in the year 
following, several other families ar- 
rived, and their population is now 
21 8> There are no settled minis- 
ters in this place. Pop. 218. 

PiERMONT, a post-township, in 
Grafton county, in lat. 43° 58', is 
bounded N. by Haverhill, E. by 
Warren, S. byOrford, W. by Brad- 
ford, Vt. containing 23,000 acres. 
It is 70 miles from Concord and 
132 from Boston. The soil, espe- 
cially on the Connecticut, is good. 
The meadows or intervals, are ex- 
tensive, and in some instances 
highly cultivated. The plains, ad- 
joining the meadows, are compo- 
sed of sandy loam, and in some pla- 
ces inclined to marie, and are fa- 
vorable to the growth of wheat, 
corn and every kind of grain and 
of grass. Back from the river, the 
town is made up of swells of fine 
grazing and mowing land well wa- 
tered with brooks and springs. The 
forest trees on the river are white 
pine; E. from the river, sugar ma- 
ple, birch, elm, bass and every spe- 
cies of timber found in the country. 
In the N. E. part of the town are 
three considerable ponds> called 



214 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Eastman's ponds. On a plain, be- 
tween these ponds, and on Coos 
turnpike, 6 miles from Haverhill 
corner, is the seat of the late Col. 
Tarleton, formerly counsellor and 
sheriff of Grafton county. From 
these ponds, issues Eastman's 
brook, which passing in a S. E. di- 
rection, falls into Connecticut riv- 
er, forming a number of excellent 
mill seats. Indian brook, on which 
mills are erected, is in the S. part. 
There is a small island in Connec- 
nicut river in the S. W. part of 
this town, called Barron's island. 
In the N. part is an extensive quar- 
ry of stones disposed in layers, con- 
venient for mill stones and various 
uses in building. The charter of 
Piermont was granted Nov. 6,1764, 
to John Temple and 59 others. The 
settlement commenced in 1770. The 
congregational church was gathered 
in 1771. Rev. John Richards was 
settled in 1776. He continued his 
labors till 1802, when his advanced 
age deprived the church and socie- 
ty of his usefulness. He died in 
Vermont in 1814. Rev. Jonathan 
Hovey was settled in 1810 for 5 
years. Rev. Robert Blake, a gen- 
tleman from England, commenced 
his services here in 1819. There 
is a society of baptists ; and also 
one of methodists, over which the 
Rev. Dan Young formerly presi- 
ded. Pop. 1000. 

PiGwACKET. See Pequawkett. 

Pilot, a mountain. See Kil- 
kenny. 

Pine river, is a small stream, 
issuing from a pond in Wakefield, 
and passing N.W. into Ossipee lake. 

PiSCATAauoG river is formed of 
two principal branches, one from 
Francestown, the other from Hen- 
niker and Deering, which unite and 
form the main stream near the W. 
line of Goffstown. It pursues a S. 
easterly course through Goflfstown 



and the N. E. corner of Bedford, 
where it falls into Merrimack river. 

PiscATAauoG village, on the 
river of the same name and near 
its mouth, in the N. E. part of Bed- 
ford, contains 20 dvi^elling houses, a 
neat and handsome meeting-liouse^ 
a post office, 2 attorneys' offices, 3 
stores, 1 tavern and a number of 
mechanics' shops. A handsome 
bridge is constructed over the Pis- 
cataquog in this village, 60 feet ia 
length. Since the Union Canal 
commenced operation, the boating 
business to this place has been car- 
ried on with much success. Sever- 
al of the stores are so situated that 
by the assistance of a lock at the 
mouth of the river, the boats may 
be brought up underthem, and their 
freight hoisted from the boats into 
the stores — by which the v'.cinity 
is supplied with the heavy articles 
of salt, lime, iron, fish, plaster, &c. 
at the Boston prices with the addi- 
tion of a small sum for freight. — 
On the S. side of the river below 
this village, is a public landing 
place, extending to the Merrimack, 
and from this place lumber of all 
descriptions from the circumjacent 
country, is conveyed down the riv- 
er to market by rafts and boats to 
Newburyport, and through the Mid- 
dlesex canal, to Charlestown and 
Boston. The rise and present flour- 
ishing appearance of this village is 
owing, in a great measure, to the 
enterprize and industry of William 
Parker and Isaac Riddle, esquires, 
who were the first to commence 
the mercantile business in this 
place. William Parker, Esq. who 
died in July, 1819, and Hon. James 
Parker, a senator in the legislature, 
in 1819. who died in 1822, resided 
in this village. 

PiscASSicK, a Small river, rises 
in the N. E. part of Brentwood, and 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



21! 



passes through New-Market into the 
Lamprey river at Durham. 

PiTTSFiELD, post-town, Rock- 
ingham county, in lat. 43° 15', con- 
tains an area of 14,921 acres, 94 of 
which are water. It is bounded N. 
E. by Barnstead, S. E. by Strafford 
and Northwood, S. W. by Chiches 
ter and Epsom, and N. W. by Lou- 
don. Piltsfield has a very uneven 
and rocky surface, but its soil is 
generally fertile. Suncook river 
passes through this town from N. to 
S. furnishing numerous mill seats*. 
Catamount mountain stretches a- 
cross the S. E. part of the town, from 
the summit of which the ocean is 
visible. Berry's pond is situated 
on this mountain, being about half 
a mile ia length, and 50 rods wide — 
supplied by springs in the moun- 
tain. A stream issuing from it 
furnishes four mill seats. East of 
this is Wild-goose pond, 1 1-2 miles 
long, 1 wide. West of these ponds 
the inagnetic-needle varies materi- 
ally. There are also three other 
ponds in Pittsfield — Shaw's, Eaton's 
and Bachelder's. This town was 
settled in 17 — , by John Cram and 
others; and in 1789 the congr.church 
was formed, and Rev. Christopher 
Page settled. He was dismissed in 
1795. Rev. Benjamin Sargent was 
settled over a baptist church in 1801, 
and died in 1818. There is a 
large- society of free-will baptists, 
over which Elder Ebenezer Knowl- 
ton presides. There is also a soci- 
ety of friends. Pittsfield social 
library was incorporated in 1804 — 
has about 100 volumes. The spotted 
fever raged here with much violence 
in 1813-14, duringwhich 84 persons 
fell its victims. Numi)er of deaths 
since the first settlement of the 
town, 483, Pop. 1170. 

Plainfield, a post-town in 
Chesiiire county, on Connecticut 
river, in lat. 43*^ 33', is bounded N. 



Iby Lebanon, E. by Grantham, S. by 
Cornish, and W. by Hartland, Vt. 
onlaining 23,221 acres. It is 12 
rniles from Dartmoutli college, 55 
from Concord, and 111 from Boston. 
The forest trees, on the river, are 
pine ; on the highlands, maple, 
beech, birch, elm. There is con- 
siderable valuable interval, onCon- 
iccticut river, and in other parts are 
excellent meadows. There are 
two ponds. At the S. W. part of 
thib town, in Connecticut river, is 
Hart's island, which contains 19 
acres. Waterqueechy falls are in 
this town. A bridge was erected 
here in 1807. A small stream flow- 
ing from Croydon mountaiits, 
waters this town. Plainfield has a 
pleasant village, situated on a hand- 
some plain, through the centre of 
which the street passes N. and S. 
There are two meeting houses and 
two congregational churches. On 
a pleasant eminence in Meriden 
parish, is located " The Union 
Academy," incorporated June 16, 
1813. It is endowed with a perma- 
nent fund, of $40,000, the liberal 
bequest of the late Hon. Daniel. 
Kimball, the interest of which as 
directed by his last will, is to be 
applied as follows, viz. — $150 an- 
nually to the support of a Calvinist- 
ic preacher, and the remainder for 
the instruction of pious young men 
for the ministry. This seminary is 
in a flourishing condition. Plain- 
field was granted Aug. 14, 1761, 
and was settled in 1764, by L. Nash 
and J. Russell. The name is de- 
rived from a place in Connecticut, 
where the proprietors held their first 
meeting. A congregational church 
was formed in 1765 and Rev. Abra- 
ham Carpenter was ordained the 
same year, and was afterwards dis- 
missed. Rev. Experience Ester- 
brooks was settled June 6, 1787; 
dismisseU April 19, 1789. Rev, 



216 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Siloam Short was ordained 1799; 
died Sept. 1803. Rev. David Dick 
inson was ordained July 4, 1804 ; 
dismissed in Feb. 1819. Rev 
Micaiah Porter was installed July^ 
19, 1805. The second church,whiciV 
is in Meriden paiish, consists of 
members belonginji; to this town and 
Grantham. Rev. Dana Clayes was 
ordained July 4, 1821. There is a 
baptist society, of which the church 
was formed in 1792. Rev. Jona- 
than Cram was ordained in Aug. 
1793. Pop. 1460. 

Plaistow, a small township, 
Rockingham county, in lat. 42° 50', 
is bounded N. W. by Hampstead, 
N. E. by Kingston and Newtown 
& E. and S. W. by Haverhill, Ms 
W. by Atkinson — contains 6,839 
acres, and is 36 miles from Concord, 
30 from Portsmouth, and 35 from 
Boston. Plaistow was originally a 
part of Haverhill, and included in 
the purchase of the Indians, Nov. 
15, 1642, and its settlement com- 
menced early, but the precise time 
cannot be ascertained. Among the 
first settlers were Capt. Charles 
Bartlett, Nicholas White, Esq. Dea. 
Benjamin Kimball and J. Harriman. 
Their posterity now inhabit the 
town. After it became annexed 
to New-Hampshire, a charter was 
granted, Feb. 28, 1749. The soil 
of this town is good, being a mix- 
ture of black loam, clay or gravel. 
The N. W. part of the town is rocky, 
and mineral substances have been 
discovered. Clay abounds near 
the centre — and a great number of 
springs water the fields and pas- 
tures. The principal stream is for- 
med near the centre of the town by 
the confluence of two smaller 
streams, one from Kingston, the 
other from Hampstead. The con- 
gregational church was gathered 
here Dec. 2, 1730, and Rev. James 
Cushin^ settled, who died May 13, il 



1764. Rev. Gyles Merrill succeed- 
ed him March 6, 1765, and died 
April 27, 1801, aged 62. Both were 
graduates of Cambridge, and emin- 
ent men. The congregational so- 
ciety is in connexion with the N.par- 
ish in Haverhill. There are small 
societies of baptists and methodists, 
each of which have occasional 
preaching. Rev. Messrs, True 
Kimball, formerly of Newbury; Rev. 
Francis Welch, of Amesburj'^ ; Rev. 
Asa Eaton, episcopal clergyman in 
Boston; Rev. Samuel Gile, of Mil- 
ton ; Rev. Moses Welch, of Ames- 
bury, and Rev. Johnson Chase, of 
New-York, were natives of this 
town. Deac, J. Harriman, said 
to have been the first man in N. H. 
who embraced baptist sentiments, 
died here in 1820, aged 97. Pop. 
563. 

Plymouth, a post town, and 
the half shire of Grafton county, 
in lat. 43° 44^, is bounded E. by 
Holderness, from which it is sepa- 
rated by Pemigewasset river, W. by 
Rumney and part of Hebron, N. by 
Campton and S. by Bridgewater. 
It contains 16,256 acres. It is 75 
miles N. W. from Portsmouth. 31 
from Haverhill, and 40 from Con- 
cord. This town is well watered. 
Besides numerous smaller streams, 
there are two rivers, Pemigewasset 
and Baker's, both of which are of 
considerable importance. They 
take their rise in the height of land 
between the Connecticut and Mer- 
rimack, called the eastern ridge. 
Baker's river is 30 miles in length. 
The soil is tolerably good, and, in 
general, is well cultivated. The 
prevailing kinds of wood are beech, 
maple, birch, hemlock, and white 
pine. The land is divided into up- 
land and interval. The proportion 
of the former to the latter is about 
seven eighths. The upland is 
mountainous. There is a small, 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



21? 



but pleasant village in this place, 
containing 37 dwelling houses. The 
chwrch, a neat building, with t 
steeple, stands on a hill at the N 
E. corner of the town, and com- 
mands an extensive prospect. There 
is a social library containing 164 
volumes. There is a musical so 
ciety, incorporated in 1808, and f 
religious tract society, formed in 
1819. Plymouth was granted July 
15, 1763, to Joseph Blanchard, Esq 
and others. The first settlement 
commenced in August, 1764, by 
Zachariah Parker and James HO' 
bart, who, before the succeeding 
winter, were joined by Jotham 
Cuniings, Josiah Brown, Stephen 
Webster, Ephraim Weston, David 
Webster and James Blodgett, all of 
whom except Mr. Weston were 
from Hollis. The congregational 
church was gathered in 1765. Rev 
Nathan Ward was ordained its 
pastor at Newburyport, July 10, 
1765. He died in June, 1804, aged 
83, having been dismissed April 22, 
1794. Rev. Drury Fairbank was 
ordained Jan. 1, 1800 i dismissed 
March 18, 1818. In August the 
same year. Rev. Jonathan Ward 
commenced his ministerial labors. 
A methodist church was formed in 
1803. Tfie intervals in this town 
were formerly the resort of Indians 
for hunting. At the mouth of Ba- 
ker's river, they had a settlement, 
where Indian graves, bones, &c 
have been found ; also gun barrels, 
stone mortars, pestles and other 
utensils. Here, it is said, the In 
dlans were attacked by Capt. Baker 
and a party from Haverhill, Ms. 
who defeated them, killed a number 
and destroyed a large quantity of 
fur. From him. Baker's river de- 
rives its name. Dea. Noah John- 
son, one of Lovewell's men, died in 
Plymouth in the 100th year of his 
age, David Webster, Esq. sheriff 



of Grafton county, and Dr. John 
Rogers, an emincHt physician, and 
somewhat distinguished for his po- 
etical powers, resided in this town. 
Pop. 1000. 

PoiVDiCHERRT, name of a 
mountain, &c. See Jefferson. 

PoPLiw, post-townsliip, Rocking- 
ham county, in lat. 43°, is 24 miles 
from Portsmouth, 33 from Concord, 
and 50 from Boston. It is bounded 
|N. by Epping, E. by Brentwood, Si 
;by a corner of Kingston, and by 
Hawke and Sandown, W. by Ches- 
ter and Raymond ; and contains 
10,320 acres. There is a small 
pond in the N. part of the town cal- 
led Loon pond ; and the tovrn is 
watered by Squamscot, or Exeter 
river, beside several small streams. 
The soil is generally of a good 
quality, and the surface of the 
town is not broken by high hills. 
Spruce swamp is in the E. part of 
the town. The meeting-house is 
situated near the centre of the 
town. A methodist church has 
existed here for several years, over 
which Rev. Orlando Hinds pre- 
sides. Poplin was incorporated 
June 22, 1764 ; the date of its first 
settlement is not ascertained. The 
inhabitants are principally indus- 
trious farmers. Pop. 453. 

Portsmouth, a post-township, 
in the county of Rockingliam.is the 
principal town in the state, and the 
oaly sea-port which it contains. It 
is situated in lat. 43° 5'; long. 6® 
23' E. from Washington ; and 
bounded N. W. by Newington, N. 
E. by Pascataqua river, which sep- 
arates it from Maine, S. E. and S. 
by Rye, W. by Greenland and 
Newington. Portsmouth is buiit 
on a beautiful peninsula, on the S. 
side of ihe river; and, as seen from 
the towers of the steeples, the river, 
harbor, points, islands, and adjacent 
1 country present a delightful assem'' 



218 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



of objects. In the W. and 
N. parts of the town are som« beau- 
tiful and productive gardens. This 
town originally included New-Cas- 
tle, Rye, Greenland and a part of 
Hampton (now North-Hampton.) 
It was settled under the auspices of 
Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Capt. 
John Mason, in 1623, and was in- 
corporated by charter in 1633. That 
part of it which lies round Church 
hill, extending N. towards Rindge's 
wharf, and W. towards the academy 
was originally called Strawberry- 
Bank. The first house of which 
we have any account, erected in 
what is now the compact part of 
the town, was built by Humphrey 
Cbadbourne, and according to tra- 
dition, stood near the corner of 
Court and Pond streets. It was 
called the " Great house," and is 
frequently referred to in our early 
histories. Within the memory of 
the present generation, a garrison 
house stood in Water street, at the 
head of Jacob Sheafe's wharf, an- 
other in Fore street on Moffatt's 
wharf, and a third at the ferry-ways. 
These were probably the principal 
houses on " the Bank." The first 
meeting-house stood on Pleasant 
street, near Doct. Goddard's house. 
After a short time, it was taken 
down ; and another erected on the 
hill beyond the S. bridge. The S. 
mill was granted to John Pickering, 
on condition of iiis making a foot 
bridge over the mill-pond for per- 
sons to pass to and from meeting. 
On the erection of the present N. 
and S. meeting-houses, and a (divis- 
ion of the parishes, the old meeting- 
house was made a school house. 
Except the garrison bouses above 
mentioned, the earliest settlements 
were probably on the Scuth road. 
The creek, which flows across 
Water street (under Liberty bridge) 
formerly extended to Pleasant 



street, and at high tides flowed over 
Rogers' field to the S. s^ill pond. 
The channel of this creek, in Pleas- 
ant street, has been filled up within 
fifty years. The N. mill-pond for- 
merly extended from Nathaniel 
Adams'.S. E. through Vaughn street, 
to John Melcher's house ; and the 
S. mill-pond (or rather the marshes 
around it) extended through Jaffrey 
street to the Hay-market. From 
the peculiar advantages of its situa- 
tion, Portsmouth appears almost 
wholly to have escaped the ravages 
of the Indians. Secured on three 
sides by the Pascataqua, the ocean, 
and an inlet, it was accessible to 
the savages only by the isthmus 
which connects it with the main ; 
and across that a stockade fence 
was extended for defence. The 
settlements were also compact, and 
the number of inhabitants, at an 
early date considerable. There 
are in Portsmouth seven churches, 
2 for congregationalists, 1 for inde- 
pendents, 1 for episcopalians, 1 for 
universalists. 1 for baptists, 1 for 
methodists ; a court-house ; jail ; a 
branch of the U. S. bank ; 4 other 
banks ; a loan office ; several print- 
ing-offices, and several extensive 
book-stores ; 2 insurance offices ; aa 
academy", alms-house ; 2 markets ; 
a custom-house ; 280 stores ; 2 ex- 
tensive rope-walks; 3 distilleries, 
&c. A large brick market, 2 stories 
high, was erected in 1800, near the 
centre of the town, the upper story 
of which, called Jefferson-Hall, 
makes a commodious town-house. 
This market is constantly supplied 
with good provision. Back of Mer- 
chant's Row stands the Fish-mar- 
ket. In 1822, thg wealthy and 
j enterprising citizens of this town 
I connected Portsmouth with Kittery 
jin Maine, by two bridges, one 480 
'feet in length.supported by 20 fram- 
|ed sections of piers ; the otaer 1750 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



219 



feet, supported by 70 framed sec-j 
tions of piers. Under the long 
bridge, for 900 feet, the water varies 
from 45 to .53 feel in depth at low 
water. The length of the sections 
supporting the bridge in this place 
varies from 61 to 72 feet. The 
-draw is 1336 feet from the island, 
and the water is 21 feet deep at 
ebb tide. This bridge greatly in- 
creases and facilitates the travel 
from Portland aad its vicinity to 
this town and Boston. The public 
have long felt the need of it; but 
owing to the depth of the river and 
rapidity of the tide, it was thought j 
impracticable. There have been 
difficulties overcome in erecting 
this bridge never before attempted 
in New-England. It was complet- 
ed in less than six months from Us 
commencement, at the expense of 
about $32,000 only. The town is 
also connected with New-Castle by 
a bridge built in 1821. There are 
in this town 63 streets, 41 lanes 13 
roads, and 3 squares. The streets, 
though not laid out with much reg- 
ularity, are pleasant. Portsmou^^b 
aqueduct company was incorporat- 
ed in 1797 ; and commenced its op- 
erations in 1799. Water of excel- 
lent quality is brought from a foun- 
tain about 3 miles distant., and 
conducted into all the principal 
streets. Portsmouth pier, 340 feet 
in length, and about 60 feet wide, 
was incorporated in 1795. Ports- 
mouth Athengeum was incorporat- 
ed in 1817; and has a library ofi 
about 1600 volumes ; and cabinets 
of mineralogy and natural history, 
&c. The institution is rapidly in- 
creasing in value. The people of 
this town were at an early period ' 
friendly to literature ; and for seven 
years commencing 1669, paid £50 
per annum to Harv. college. Ports- 
mouth is the centre of a consider- 
able trade directed by wealthy and 



enterprizing citizens. There be- 
long t© this port, 146 vessels, of 
which 36 are ships, 30 brigs, 8 
sloops, 25 schooners, 53 fishing ves- 
sels. There are 58 wharves. The 
commerce of Portsmouth is already 
noticed in p. 30 of this work. The 
Pascataqua, as it passes ihis town, 
is from 1-2 to 3-4 of a mile wide ; 
and although the current is so swift 
as to prevent the river from freezing, 
yet it forms one of the most secure 
r.ad commodious harbors in the 
United States, into which ships of 
any size or burthen may enter with 
perffcct safety. It is protected by 
nature from the ravages of the N. 
E. storms, and can very easily be 
rendered inaccessible to enemies.* 
The harbor is protected by four 
batteries — Fort Constitution, on 
Great Island (New-Castle -,) Fort 
M'Clary opposite, about a mile dis- 
tant, in Kittery; Fort Sullivan, on 
Trefetiicn island ; and Fort Wash- 
ington, on Peirce's island. The 
two latter were manned in the late 
war but are now i^ i state of decay. 
Abo?.u one mile L'e;ow tiie town, 
the navigation is rendered some- 
n'hat difficult by tbe rapidity of the 
curreiv. ; tho nair body o'the river 
being lovced Uirourii a. chpnnel only 
about 4ii rccb' wide. There : re in 
the Harbor a nutriliero 
•-.ost consuierabj 
i'^iiand. IV: or'.' 

island, on which i- > leN v)f-Yard, 
one of the safest and m^A conven- 
ient on the coast 5 Baiter's i&land, 

* Tlie main entrrnce to the harbor 

is on th° N. bet- . eea ISTew-Csist'c and 
Kitti ry ; the oth , :• entranc , on the S. 
of Nev.--CastU :<; cah. .^ LifneHu-bory 
where the water is shor .nil ♦ i- c attorn 
saa.iy. At this place, jp the spri: g of 
1623, '.'le first settle- . of iLin state, r.;ade 
their lauding, and iu the same year 

|eommenead settlements here and at 

: Dover. 



f iblauds, the 
of w'^icbisGreat 
1: rirec'cirunentai 



S20 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



on which the JVorih Ameriea, (the 
first line of battle ship 1 lanched in 
the western heinisphere) was built 
during the revoluuonary war. Pcrts- 
mouth msrine society was incor- 
porated in 1808 ; and has a find of 
$2500. Tiie JVew-Hampshire Ga- 
zette, Portsmouth Journal and the 
Christian Herald, are published 
here. [A par.i'^alar notice of the 
different papers, &c. published in 
this town will be given in the Ap 
pendix.] Few tov/us in New-Eng 
land have sutlered so much from 
fires as Portsmouth. In 1781, the 
house, stable and a large store of 
Hon. Woodbury Langdon were 
destroyed, and a large portion of 
the town must have been laid in 
ashes, but for a sudden change of 
wind. Dec. 26, 1802, 102 buildings 
were burnt. Dec. 24, 1806, 14 build 
ings, including St. John's church, 
were destroyed. But the most ca- 
lamitous fire broke out Dec. 22,1813, 
when 397 buildings were burnt, of 
which more than 100 were dwell 
ing houses. The ravages extend- 
ed over about 15 acres. In Sept. 
1798, a malignant fever prevailed 
here, and 55 persons died. About 
SO also died in this season of dysen- 
tery. This town has generally 
been healthy — its air is pleasant 
and salubrious. In Portsmouth, 
there exist different religious de- 
nominations, which we shall en- 
deavor tr arrange according to the 
time of their appearance. (1.) The 
first religious society in this town 
was a small one of Episcopalians, 
who built a church prior to 1638, 
and employed Rev. Richard Gibson 
to reach in it. Ho reaiained here 
till 642. From this period to 1680, 
and auerwards to 1732, there exist 
no autlientic records of this church. 
In 1732, a new church, called 
Queea's Chapel, now St. John's 
Church, was erected, and Rev. 



Arthur Browne became the first 
incumbent in 1736. He died in 
June, 1773, aged 73. Rev. John 
Cosens Ogden succeeded in 1786 ; 
removed in 1793; died in 1800. 
Rev. Joseph Willard succeeded in 
1795 ; resigned in 1806. Rev. 
Charles Burroughs succeeded Feb. 
1,1810. Number of communicants, 
90, (2.) Of Congregaiionalists, 
there are three societies. The 1st 
congregational church was under 
the care of Rev. Joshua Moodey, 
who graduated at Harvard college 
in lo53; was ordained 1671; died 
July 4, 1697, aged 65. Rev. Na- 
thaniel Rogers, who graduated at 
Harvard college in 1687, was or- 
dained May 3, 1699; died Oct. 3, 
1723, aged 54. Rev. Jabez Fitch, 
wl'O graduated at Harvard college 
in 1694, was settled in 1725; died 
Nov. 22, 1 746, aged 73. Rev. Sam- 
uel Langdon, D. D. afterwards Pres- 
ident of Harvard college, graduated 
1740, was ordained Feb. 4, 1747 ; 
dismissed Oct. 9, 1774. Rev. Jo- 
seph Buckminster, D. D. who grad- 
uated at Yale college in 1770, was 
ordained Jan. 27, 1779; died June 
10, 1812, aged 61. Rev. Israel W. 
Putnam, who graduated at Dart- 
mouth college in 1809, was ordain- 
ed March 15, 1815. Number of 
communicants, 140. The 2d con- 
gregational church (in the S. parish) 
was formed about 1715. Rev. John 
Emerson, who graduated at Har- 
vard college ill 1689, was ordained 
March 28, 1715; died June 21, 1732, 
aged 62. Rev. William Shurtlefi; 
who graduated at Harvard college 
n 1 707, was installed Feb. 21, 1733; 
died May 9, 1747. Rev. Job Strong, 
who graduated at Yale college in 
1747, was ordained June 28, 1749; 
died Sept. 30, 1751, aged 27. Rev. 
Samuel Haven, D. D. who graduat- 
ed at Harvard college in 1749, was 
ordained May 6, 1752; died March 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



221 



3, 1806, aged 79. Rev. Timothy 
Alden, now President of Alleghany 
college in Penn. who graduated at 
Harvard college in 1794, was or- 
dained colleague with Dr. Haven, 
Nov. 20, 1799; dismissed Aug. 11, 
1805. Rev. J^athan Parker, who 
graduated at Harvard college in 
1803, was ordained Sept. 14, 1808. 
dumber of communicants, 110. 
The 3d congregational, or indepen- 
dent church has had the following 
pastors ; viz. Rev. Samuel Drown, 
ordained Nov. 2, 1761 ; died Jan. 
17, 1770, aged 49. Rev. Joseph 
Walton, ordained Sept. 22,1789; 
died in 1822, aged 80. (3.) The 
Sandemanians are a small society 
formed about the year 1764, to 
which, for many years, Daniel 
Humphreys, Esq. has statedly min- 
istered. (4.) There is a Univer- 
saiist society, the doctrines of which 
were first preached in Portsmouth, 
in Nov. 1773, by Rev. John Murray 
of Boston. The society was iu- 
corporated in Aug. 1793 ; the 
church was constituted in July, 
1805, consisting of 12 members, 
The ministers have been, Rev 
George Richards, ordained in July 
1799; dismissed in April, 1809- 
Rev. Hosea Ballou.installed in 1809 
removed in 1815 — and Rev. Sebas 
tian Streeter, who succeeded Mr 
Ballou in Aug. 1815. Communi- 
cants, 44. (5.) The Methodists. 
who have a church, organized April 
27, 1809, have had regular preach 
ing since 1803. Communicants, 
100. (6.) The Baptists formed a 
society in 1802; and a church was 
constituted in March, 1803. Elder 
Elias Smith officiated here several 
years. 

Ainon^ the citizens of Portsmouth 
distinguished for their taleuts or public 
ser\'ices, we may mention GEORGE 
VAUGH AN, grandson of Maj. William 
Vaughan, the intrepid opposer of the 
&i*bitrary Cranfield, who was born 

u 



April 13, 1676, and in 1715 was appoint- 
ed lieutenant governor. I'his office 
he sustained but a short time, and died 
in Dec. 1725. His son, WILLIAM 
VAUGHAN, the original projector cf 
the expedition against Louisbourg, was 
bom at Portsiiiout}'., Sept. 12, 1703 ; ex- 
hibited much bravery in the siege of 
that fortress, and died in London in 
Dec. 1746. JOHN WENTWOKTH, 
the first governor of that name in N. H. 
was grandson of William Wentworth, 
who was an eider of the church at Do^er 
in 1662. In early life, he commanaed 
a ship, and acquired a fortune by mer- 
cantile pursuits. Without superior tal- 
ents, his industry and activity in busi- 
ness, together with an obliging deport- 
ment, recommended him to the esteem 
of the pecpie ; and in 1717, he was ap- 
pointed lieutemint governor, and after 
Shute's departure, commauder in chief. 
He died Dec. 12, 173u, aged 59. He 
had sixteen children. BENNING 
WENTWORTH, his son, graduated 
at Harvard college in 1715 ; was a mem- 
ber of the assembly and councxi ; went 
to London on some mercantile busint^s, 
where he solicited and obtained the 
commission of governor. He continu- 
ed in office about 20 years. He was 
supei-seded in 1767, by his nephew, 
John Went\rorth, and died Oct.14, 1770, 
aged 75. JOHN WENTWORTH, the 
second, was bred a merchant, possessed 
amiable qualities, and by his cuterprize 
and zeal for pub;ic improvements, soon 
became a favoiite of the people. Fa- 
voring the cause of the mother country, 
on the breaking out of the revolution, 
he was obhged to retire, and embarked 
for Nova-Scotia, where he Nvas govern- 
or several years. He was honored with 
the degree of LL. D. from the universi- 
ties of Oxford and Aberdeen, and from 
Dartmouth college. He was iuade a 
baronet before he left N. H. He died 
at Halifax, April 8, 1820, aged 84. 
DANIEL RINDGE, Esq. an eminent 
merchant, and member of the provin- 
cial council, died Jan. 12, 1799,ag d68. 
Hon. PEIRCE LONG, died in April, 
1789 : during the revolution, he com- 
manded a regiment— was a member of 
the old congress, and frequently in the 
legislature of the state. Coi. GEORGE 
GAINS, a patriotic revolution luy sol- 
dier, died April 25, 1809, aged 73. Dr. 
JOSHUA BRACKETT, artistinguish- 
ed physician and founder of the Medical 
Society, died Juiy 17, 1802, age^d 69. 
Hon. SAMUEL HALE, a native of 



22^ 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Newbury ,Ms.g^aduated at Harvard col- 
lege in 1740; in 1745 commanded a com- 
pany of provincials at the siege of Louis- 
bourg ; and afterwards for more than 
30 years taught a public school inPoi-ts- 
mouth. " His fame in the regions of 
the Pascataqua was equal to that of his 
cotemporary Lovell,in the metropolis of 
New-England." He was subsequently 
^ judge of the common pleas, and died 
July 10, 1807, aged 89. Rev. SAMUEL 
HAVEN, D. D. was bom at Framing- 
ham, Ms. Aug. 4, 1727 ; graduated at 
Harvard college in 1749 ; settled at 
Portsmouth in 1752 ; received the de- 
gree of D. D. from the University of 
iidiuburgh in 1772 ; and died March 3, 
1806, aged 79. He was an eminently 
useful man ; seven of his sermons have 
heen printed. Dr. AMMI R. CUT- 
TER, was born at North-Yarmouth, 
Me. in March, 1735 ; graduated at Har- 
vard college in 1752 ; studied the sci- 
ence of medicine, and was surgeon of a 
regiment at the capture of Cape Bre- 
ton ; was appointed to the charge of the 
northern medical department in 1777 ; 
and was a member of the convention 
which formed the constitution. For 60 
years he was an eminent practitioner, 
and during life a firm supporter of his 
country. He died Dec. 8, 1820, agt d 
86. Hon. JOHN PIC KERING. LL.D. 
was a native of Newington ; graduated 
at Harvard college in 1761 ; and having 
devoted some time to theological studies, 
was offered the rectorship of an episco- 
pal church in England. He decliuLd, 
and applied himself to the study of tht 
Jaw— m which he became eminent. Hl 
was a member of the convention which 
formed the constitution ; frequently a 
member of tht: legislature ; president of 
the senate in 1789 ; and governor ex- 
officio of the state, on the election of 
Gov. Langdon to the Senate of the U 
S. He was appointed chief-justice of 
the superior court in 1790, and contin- 
ued in office five yeais. He was after- 
wards district judge of fhe U. S. ; and 
died Apni 11, 1805, aged 67. Hon. 
JOHN LANGDON, LL. D. was born 
at Portsmouth in 1740. His father, who 
was a respectable farmer, resided about 
three miles from the compact part of 
Portsmouth. In the ear'y prirt of tht 
revolution we find this distiuguisli;d 
pati-iot boidly asserting jur rigUis and 
actively engaged in their def.nce. 
Since the attainment of our liberties, 
iie acted equally as conspicuous a 
part, in vigUantiy watching and pro- 



tecting them. In 1775, he was a dele- 
gate from this state to the congress 
which met at Philadelphia. In 1785, 
he was chosen president of the state. 
He was elected to the same office ii» 
1788, and after the adoption of the pres- 
ent constitution, was governor six years. 
He ever discharged the duties of the 
offices to which he was elected faithful- 
y and acceptably. He possessed a 
good heart, a sound mind, and was re- 
narkabiy pleasing in his maimers. The 
object of his life was more to do good 
than to dazzle. Unlike many elevated 
to office, he remembered that the peo- 
ple clothed him with authority, ana his 
only study was to serve the people hon- 
estly and faithfully. He died Sept. 18, 
1819, aged 79. Hon. WOODBURY 
LANGDON, only brother of Gov. L. 
was a member of the old congress, judge 
of the superior court several years, and 
through life a firm patriot and useful 
citizen. He died in Jan. 1805. Hon. 
RICHARD EVANS was born at Ports- 
mouth, May 13, 1777 ; commenced busi- 
ness as a merchant ; afterwards studied 
law ; was elected member of the legis- 
lature; and in 1809 was appointed judge 
of the superior court. He died July 18, 
1816, aged 39. JONATHAN M. SEW- 
ALL Esq. counsellor at law, and a re- 
spectable poet, was born at Salem, Ms. 
in 1748 ; and died at Poi-tsmouth March 
29, 1808. Rev. JOSEPH BUCKMIN- 
STER, D. D. a native of Rutland, Ms. 
was graduated at Yale college in 1770 ; 
was tutor at that institution four years ; 
s.ttied at Portsmouth in 1779 ; received 
the degree of D. D. from N. J. college 
in 1803 ; and died at Reedsborough, Vt. 
June 10, 1812, aged 61. Dr. B. was a 
distinguished scholar and eminent di- 
vine. Many other worthy men might 
be named, had we not already extend- 
ed this article to a great length. Ports- 
uouth contains an area of 9,702 acres ; 
and is 45 miles from Concord, 55 from 
Boston— maii-route 64 ; and 58 from 
Portland. Pop. in 1820—7,327. 

Powow river, has its principal 
source in Great and Country ponds 
in Kingston, and passes over tiie 
S. W. part of East-Kingston into 
South-Hampton ; thence into Ames- 
liury, where it turns E. into South 
rlampton again, and returns into 
Aniesbury, tailing into the Merri- 
mack between Salisbury and Ames- 
burv. There are several falls in 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



223 



this river : those in Amesbury be- 
ing the most remarkable, the wa- 
ter falling 100 feet in the distance 
of 50 rods, and presenting, with the 
variety of machiHery and dams, 
houses and scenery on the falls,one 
of the most interesting views in 
the country. 

Public Lands. The ungrant 
«d lands belonging to the state of 
New-Hampshire, are situated with- 
in the counties of Grafton and Coos. 
They consist of a large tract N. of 
lat. 450 containing about 160,000 
acres ; a tract of about 28,000 acres, 
E. of Stratford ; and large tracts of 
mountainous territory S. and S. W. 
of the White Mountains, extending 
up theij summits. Pop. 17. 

a. 

QtJ-AMPHEGAN, name of the 
falls on the Pascataqua, between 
Somersworth and Berwick. 

QuoNEHTiauoT, the ancient 
spelling of Connecticut, a Mohea- 
kanneew word, and literally signi 
fying long river. 

QuocHECHo. See Cocheco. 



R. 

Ragged Mountains, so called 
from their rough appearance, lie be 
tween Andover and New-Chester, 
extending in a chain about 10 miles 
from the Pemigewasset to the vi- 
cinity of Kearsarge. It is a bleak 
and precipitous range, and is near- 
ly 2000 feet high, in its N. points. 

Raymond, post-townsh!p,Rock- 
ingham county, in lat. 43° 2', 65 
miles from Boston, 25 from Ports- 
mouth, 25 from Concord, 13 from 
Exeter, is t)ounded N. by Deer- 
field and Nottingham, E. by Ep- 
ping and Poplin, S. by Chester, W. 
ahd N. W. by Chester and Candia, 
and contains an area of 16,317 
acres. Two branches of the Lam- 



prey river, from Deerfield and Can- 
dia, unite in Raymond; and the 
waters of two ponds also fall into 
this river as it passes through town. 
The Patuckaway, from Notting- 
ham, crosses the N. E. corner into 
Epping. The soil is various : that 
of the meadows bordering on the 
river is productive, and considera- 
ble attention has been recently paid 
to its cultivation. The high lands 
are covered with a growth of oak 
and forest pines. The public high- 
ways through this town are good, 
and constantly improving. In the 
N. part of the town, about 100 rods 
from the principal road leading to 
Deerfield, near the summit of a hill 
about 100 feet high, is a natural 
excavation in a ledge, called the 
Oven, from the appearance of its 
mouth. It is a regular arch about 
5 feet high and of the same width, 
extending into the hill about 15 feet, 
and terminating in a number of fis- 
sures. Many rattlesnakes were 
formerly found here. Raymond 
was originally that part of Chester 
called Charming-fare. In 1762, 
it was made a distinct parish, and 
incorporated May 9, 1765, by its 
present name. The names of 24 
of the inhabitants of Raymond are 
found enrolled among the soldiers 
of the revolution, beside numbers 
of the militia engaged for short pe- 
riods. Four were killed or died in 
service. Over the congregation- 
al church, Rev. Jonathan Stickney 
was ordained 22d Oct. 1800. He 
was succeeded by Rev. Stephen 
Bailey in 1817, who continued to 
preach until 1822. The church is 
now vacant. Hon. John Dud- 
ley, a distinguished patriot of the 
revolution, member of the commit- 
tee of safety, speaker of the House, 
and judge of the superior court, 
died here May 21, 1805, aged 80, 
(For a memoir of his life, see Hist. 



^24 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Goll. for 1822, p. 155.) The deaths 
in this town from April, 1766, to 
Dec. 1821, were 514 — the greatest 
number in one year 20, the least 2 
—averaging about 9 per annum. 
Pop. 961. 

Red Hill, a noted and beauti- 
ful eminence situated in Moulton- 
borough, commanding a varied and 
enchanting prospect. See Moulton- 
borough. 

Red Hill river, originating in 
a pond in Sandwich, falls into the 
Winnepisiogee in Moultonborough. 

Richmond, a post-township in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 42° 45', is 
bounded N. by Swanzey, E. by 
Fitzwilliam, S. by Royalston and 
Warwick, Ms. W. by Winchester, 
containing 23,725 acres. This town 
is 12 miles from Keene, 70 from 
Concord, and 72 from Boston. It 
is watered by branches of Ashuelot 
and Miller's rivers, which fall into 
the Connecticut. The ponds are 
three in number, one of which is 
one of the sources of Miller's river. 
The soil here is favorable for yield- 
ing rye, wheat, Indian corn, and 
most of the productions found in 
this section of New-England. The 
laud is generally level. There are 
no remarkable elevations. There 
is a small village of 15 or 20 dwel- 
ling houses ; and there are two 
tneeting-houses, which are near 
the centre of the town. The Ash- 
uelot turnpike road passes through 
Richmond in an E. and W. direc- 
tion. Richmond was granted Feb. 
28, 1752, to Joseph Blanchard and 
others. It was settled within 5 or 
6 years afterwards, by people from 
Massachusetts and Rhode-Island 
The first child born in town was 
Lemuel Scott — born in 1757. The 
first baptist church was formed in 
1768. Rev. Maturin Ballou was 
ordained in 1770; died in 1804 
Rev. Artemas Aldrich was settled 



in 1777. The second baptist church 
was formed in 1776, and Rev. 
Isaac Kenny was settled in 1792. 
There is a large society of friends 
in this town. Pop. 1400. 

RiJVDGE, a post-township, in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 42° 45', is 
7 miles in length and 5 in breadth, 
containing 23,838 acres; bound- 
ed N. by Jaffrey and Sharon, E. 
by New-Ipswich, S. by Massachu- 
setts, and W. by Fitzwilliam. It 
is 20 miles from Keene, 56 from 
Concord, and 60 from Boston. The 
soil is very productive, lying on 
swells of land for the most part in- 
clining to the S. It was originally 
covered with a mixture of beech, 
maple, birch, hemlock, &c. There 
are 13 ponds, the largest of which 
are called Manomonack, Emerson, 
Perley, Long, Grassy, Bullet : the 
others are of less note. The 3 first 
discharge their waters into Miller's 
river in Mass., thence communicat- 
ing with the Connecticut ; the 3 
last discharge themselves into Con- 
toocook river, and from thence in- 
to the Merrimack. These ponds 
abound with fish, and were much 
frequented by the Indians for pro- 
curing fur, &c. — There is a small 
elevation of land in Rindge, from 
which the waters that issue on one 
side descend into the Merrimack, 
and those on the other side, into 
the Connecticut. Iron is found 
here ; also a species of paint near- 
ly equal to the best quality of 
Spanish brown. A mineral spring 
has been discovered, but its virtues 
have not been sufficiently tested to 
acquire celebrity. The principal 
village lies on the Rindge turnpike, 
leading from Boston to Keene, and 
contains about 20 dwelling houses^ 
The street is nearly straight, and is 
one fourth of a mile in length. 
Rindge was originally granted from 
Massachusetts, and called Rowley 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



225 



Canada, or Monadnock No. 1. It 
received its present name from one 
of the proprietors, when it was in- 
corporated, Aug. 11, 1768. The 
settlement commenced in 1762, by 
Jonathan Stanley, George Hewitt 
and Abel Platts, followed by a num- 
ber of other families the same year. 
The first native of Rindge was 
Samuel Russell. The date of the 
congregational church is not cer- 
tainly known. Rev. Seth Deane 
was ordained over it in 1765, and 
was dismissed 1780. Rev. Seth 
Payson, D. D. was ordained Dec. 
4, 1782; died Feb. 26, 1820, aged 
62. Rev. Amos Wood Burnham, 
was ordained Nov. 14, 1821. There 
are small societies of methodists 
and universalists. Rev. Se.tii Pay- 
&0N, D. D. is deserving respectful 
notice. He graduated at Harvard 
college in 1777. He was held in 
high estimation not only by the 
people of his charge, but was uni- 
versally acknowledged to be a man 
of quick perception and powerful 
talents. In 1809, he received his 
doctorate of divinity from Dart- 
mouth college ; in 1813, he was 
elected a trustee of that institution, 
which office he held till his death. 
He was several years president of 
the N. H. bible society and a mem 
ber of the A. B. C. for foreign mis 
sions. Edward Jewett, Esq. is 
among the oldest and most respect- 
ed inhabitants of this place. For 
many years, he sustained several 
town offices, and was a representa- 
tive in the legislature. In 1785, 
he was appointed a justice of the 
peace, and afterwards a justice 
throughout the state. At the age 
of 82, he holds an office in the 
church, in which he is still able to 
officiate. Pop. 1300. 

Rochester, a post-township in 
the county of Straffiard, is in lat. 43°j 
17', and in the E. part of the state,) 
U2 



bounded N. E. by the middle of 
Salmon-fall river, S. E. by Dover 
and Somersworth, S. W. by Bar- 
rington and a part of Straffiard, and 
N. W. by Farmington and Milton, 
which two last mentioned towns 
were formerly a part of Rochester. 
It is 10 miles from Dover, 22 from 
Portsmouth, 40 from Concord. Be- 
sides Salmon-fall river, which di- 
vides this town from Berwick and 
Lebanon, hi the state of Maine, the 
Cocheco river runs the whole length 
of the town and nearly in the mid- 
dle, and the Isinglass river crosses 
the southerly corner of the town 
just before its junction with Coche- 
co river, at a place called Blind 
Will's Neck. Both Salmon-fall and 
Cocheco rivers afford several val- 
uable mill seats ; on the latter of 
which, near the centre of the town, 
stands the principal village, called 
JVorway Plains. It is a place of 
considerable trade, and the great 
thoroughfare roads, from the upper 
towns in the county, to Dover and 
Portsmouth, pass through this vil- 
lage. Here are several stores, 1 
cotton factory, 1 trip hammer, 2 
potteries, besides mills, &c. of every 
description necessary to the wants 
of the place ; also one meeting- 
house, court-house, and about 60 
dwelling-houses. There is another 
village about 2 miles S. W, from 
this, called Squamanagonnick, the 
Indian name of the falls in the 
Cocheco at that place. Much of 
the soil in Rochester is good, af- 
fording many valuable farms, 
with a proportion of pine plains 
which are useful for raising corn 
and grain, and some of a cold and 
inferior quality. The surface is un- 
even, with several swells, the prin- 
cipal of which is Squamanagon- 
nick hill, which constitutes a con- 
siderable part of several valuable 
farms. In the W. part of the towjj, 



226 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



is a large tract of oak land, which 
is hard and stony ; has a deep rich 
soil, and is very productive when 
well cultivated. Between Norway 
plains and Salmon-fall river is a 
considerable quantity of land for- 
merly called W'hitehall, the soil of 
which was destroyed by fire in the 
dry years of 1761 and 1762, so as 
to be of little value for cultivation. 
Rochester was granted by Massa- 
chusetts to a number of proprietors, 
in 127 shares, and contained up- 
wards of 60,000 acres of land. That 
part now Rochester contains 22,000 
acres. The town was incorporated 
May 10, 1722. Capt. Timothy 
Roberts moved into the town with 
his family and made the first per- 
manent settlement, Dec. 28,1728; 
he was soon followed by Eleazar 
Ham, Benjamin Frost, Joseph 
Richards, Benjamin Tebbets and 
•thei-s, and in perilous times, as 
might be expected, the inhabitants 
made slow progress in settlement 
and wealth. Until Canada was 
taken by the British and American 
troops in 1760, ^t remained a fron- 
tier town ; the people were poor and 
distressed, but not discouraged. 
When a war broke out with the 
Indians, they had to move their 
flimilies into garrisons, and be on 
their watch night and day ; nor could 
they improve their little farms but 
at the hazard of their lives, and in 
such companies as they could col- 
lect, with armed sentinels kept on 
watch. Their men were bold, haif- 
dy and industrious ; and their sobs 
were trained to the use of arms. 
They early became a terror to their 
foes. They did not suffer so much 
as many towns whose situation ap- 
peared less hazardous. June 27, 
J 746, Joseph Heard, Joseph Rich- 
ards, John Wentworth and Ger- 
sham Downs were killed, and John 
Richards wounded, taken captive 



and carried to Canada ; but not 
long after returned. He died in 
1792, aged 70 years. Jonathan 
Door, a boy, was also carried cap- 
tive, and remained with the Indians 
until the reduction of Canada, 
when he returned. May 23, 1747, 
Samuel Drown was wounded in the 
hip — the ball was never extracted ; 
he died in 1795, aged 90 years. 
May 1, 1748, the wife of Jonathan 
Hodgdon was killed on a Sunday 
morning by the Indians, on refus- 
ing to be taken to Canada with 
the party. Her husband married 
again, had 21 children in all, and 
died in 1815, aged 90 years. In 
Belknap's history, mention is made 
of another man's being killed by the 
Indians, which upon enquiry ap- 
pears to have been a mistake. Mo- 
ses Roberts was shot by a sentinel, 
who supposed him to be an Indian* 
In less than ten years after the set- 
tlement of this town a church was 
gathered and Rev. Amos Main or- 
dained ; he died April 5, 1760; aged 
51, Rev. Samuel Hill was ordained 
Nov. 5. 1760; died Nov. 19, 1764. 
Rev. Avery Hall wasordained Oct. 
15, 1766; and dismissed April 10, 
1775. The present venerable pas- 
tor, Rev. Joseph Haven, was ordain- 
ed Jan. 10, 1776. There are soci- 
eties of baptists and methodist9,each 
of which have stated ministrations. 
With the former Eld. Enoch Place 
is the pastor. There are two meet- 
ings of the friends' society in the 
town — one consisting of about 20 
families, partly from Farmington^ 
and the other of about 15 families. 
They have two meeting houses, 
which are about 8 miles apart. 
There is also a universalist society. 
By the bills of mortality, it appears 
that there have died in Roches- 
ter in 46 years, 1047 persons, of 
whom there appear to have died 
19 above 90 years old ; 75 between 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



22T 



80 and 90 ; 107 between 70 and 80 : 
67 between 60 and 70 ; 53 between 
50 and 60 ; 65 between 40 and 50. 
The inhabitants have sometimes 
been visited with the malignant 
throat distemper, particularly in 
1780, when 28 children died of the 
disorder within 6 months. In the 
revolutionary war, many of the in- 
habitants bore a part. Captains 
David Place and John Brewster led 
companies to Ticonderoga, and 
suffered much in their retreat from 
that place in 1777. Of the soldiers 
from Rochester, 29 were killed or 
died in that contest. Rochester 
social library was incorporated Feb. 
14, 1794, and contains nearly 400 
volumes. James Knowles was 
many years a deacon in the church, 
a representative to the general 
court from 1765 until after the rev- 
"olutionary war, and a magistrate 
for several years ; he died at an ad- 
vanced age. Hon. John Pli'MER 
was appointed a judge of the court 
of common pleas by Gov. John 
Wentworth, when the county was 
organized ; and by his judicious 
conduct, was continued through, 
and after the revolution, until his 
voluntary resignation, the latter 
part of which time, he was chief 
justice. He was the first magis- 
trate appointed in the town, and by 
his remarkably conciliatory con- 
duct was enabled to settle most dis- 
putes that came before him in an 
amicable manner, and was justly 
entitled to the character of peace- 
maker. He died Nov. 19, 1815, 
aged 95 years. Col. John M'Duf- 
FEE was born soon after his par- 
ents arrived from Ireland ; was an 
officer in the French war. In 1762, 
he was chosen representative to 
the general court, being the first 
from Rochester. He early embark- 
ed in the cause of his country; 
was a colonel in the revolutionary 



army, and several years a member 
of the senate and house of uepie- 
sentatives of the state. He was a 
man of strong mind and memory, 
and of extensive information, and 
a sincere friend to his country ; and 
died Oct. 15, 1817, aged 91 years-. 
Dr. James How, a respectable 
physician, and sometime member 
of the general court, died Oct. 13> 
1807, aged 54. John P. HALE,Esq-, 
was a distinguished lawyer. Open, 
generous and affable, yet strictly 
correct, he will long be remember- 
ed as an ornament to the profession. 
He died Oct. 15, 1819, aged 44 
years. Josiah Main, son of the 
first minister, was 33 years succes= 
sively town clerk, commencing in 
1771. Pop. 2471. 

RoxBURY, a small town in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 42° 57', is 
bounded N. by Sullivan, E. by Nel- 
son and Dublin, S. by Marlborough 
and W. by Keene, containing about 
6000 acres. It is 5 miles from the 
coart house in Keene, 76 N.W.from 
Boston, and 50 S. W. from Con- 
cord. The N. branch of Ashuelot 
river forms the boundary between 
this town and Keene. Roaring 
brook, on which are several small 
meadows, waters the S. part, and 
empties into the Ashuelot at the 
S. W. corner. On the E. side of 
the township is a pond, called 
Roaring Brook pond, at the outlet 
of wbich stand a saw mill and 
grist mill. Roxbury presents a 
rough and uneven surface, rising 
into considerable swells, affording 
excellent grazing land, and fur- 
nishing the various productions 
found in the county of Cheshire. 
There is a post road leading from 
Keene to Concord. There is a 
meeting house in the centre of the 
town, and a congregational church 
was formed Aug. 15, 1816. Rev. 
Christopher Paige wa-s installed 



SSiS 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Nov. 21. the same year ; dismis- 
sed March 11, 1819. This town 
was formed of a part of Nelson, 
Marlborough and Keene, and in- 
corporated Dec. 9, 1812. The 
number of deaths from its incorpo- 
ration to Jan. 1, 1822, was 44; births 
108. Pop. 366. 

RoTSE mountain is situated in 
the ungranted lands N. of Chat- 
ham. 

RuMNET, a post township in 
Grafton county, in lat. 43° 49', is 
bouuded N. E. by Ellsworth, E. by 
Canipton and Plymouth, S. by Gro- 
ton and Hebron, and N. W. by 
Wentworth, containing 22,475 a- 
cres. It is 8 miles from Plymouth, 47 
from Concord and 110 from Boston. 
It is watered by Baker's river, of 
which a considerable branch flows 
from Stinson's pond, and is called 
Stinson's brook. The pond is in 
the N. part of the town, and is 400 
rods long and 280 rods wide. Part 
of Loon pond is on the E. line of 
this town. The principal elevations 
are Stinson's and Webber's moun- 
tains in the E.part.and a small part of 
Carr's mountain,which here obtains 
the name of Rattlesnake mountain, 
on its N. W. border. The soil here 
exhibits considerable degrees of fer- 
tility. The forest trees are white 
pine, sugar maple, oak, beech and 
birch. Rumney was granted first 
to Samuel Olmstead, afterwards, on 
the 18th of March, 1767, to Daniel 
Brainard and others. It was first 
settled in Oct. 1765, by Capt. Jo- 
tham Cummings, and in 1766, by 
Moses Smart, Daniel Brainard, 
James Heath and others. The first 
minister was a congregationaliit, 
Rev. Thomas Niles, who graduated 
at Yale college in 1758. He was 
settled by the proprietors, Oct. 21, 
1767. A baptist church was form- 
ed in 1780,and Rev. Cotton Haines 
o-)rdained the same ywr. P4.ev. 



iEzra Wilmarth succeeded in April, 
{ 1799 ; was fiismissed in May,1811. 
i There is also a free-will baptist 
church in Rumney. It was in this 
town, on the 28th of April, 1752, 
that the late General St ARK, while 
on a hunting expedition, was cap- 
tured by a party of 10 Indians, com- 
manded by Francis Titigaw. He 
was in company with Amos East- 
man of Concord, David Stinson of 
Londonderry, and his brother Wil- 
liam. Eastman was taken prisoner 
on the next morning. Stinson and 
William Stark, attempting to es- 
cape, were fired upon : Stinson fell, 
was killed, scalped and stripped of 
his wearing apparel. William 
made his escape. This event, and 
the name of Stinson as connected 
with it, will long be perpetuated by 
the name of the pond, mountain, 
and brook, in the town, where the 
unfortunate man was slain. Fop. 
864. 

Rye, is a township in the coun- 
ty of Rockingham, pleasantly situ- 
ated on the sea coast, in lat. 43° 1' ; 
6 1-2 miles from Portsmouth, by 
the road, 4 1-2 on a straight line, 
and 51 from Concord. It is bound- 
ed N. and N. W. by Portsmouth, 
N. E. by Little Harbor, E. by the 
sea, S. by North-Hampton, W. by 
Greenland, comprising 7,780 acres. 
Its name is supposed to have orig- 
inated from the circumstance of 
some of its first settlers emigrating 
from a town of the same name, in 
Great-Britain. It was originally 
taken from Portsmouth, Green- 
land, Hampton and New-Castle, 
chiefly the latter ; and though it 
began to be settled as early as the 
year 1635, it was not incorporated 
till 1719. For about 90 years the 
people here had no settled minister 
of the gospel among them ; but at- 
tended public worship in some of 
the neighboring towns, particularly 



NEW.HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



229 



at Portsmouth and New-Castle. 
The first settlers ol this town were 
of the names of Berry, Seavey, 
Rand, Bracket, Wallis, Jenness and 
Locke ; which names, except thai 
of Bracket, are still retained here, 
and most of them are numerous. 
The soil, in this town, is in general 
hard and stubhorn, and not natur- 
ally fertile ; hut, hy the hand of in- 
dustry, and the help ofvnrious kinds 
of sea-weed, which the coast affords 
in considerable abundance, and 
which is annually spread upon 
the farms, it is rendered very pro- 
ductive of corn, potatoes, hay, &c. 
The sea coast here is about 6 
miles in extent, being nearly one 
third of the coast in the state. 
On the shore, there are three con- 
siderable and very pleasant beach- 
es, viz : Sandy, Jenness' and Wal- 
lis' ; to which many persons re- 
sort in the summer season from 
neighboring towns and the country, 
both for health, and for pleasure. 
There is here, a small harbor, near 
Goss' mill, into which vessels of 
70 or 80 tons burden may conven- 
iently enter, at high water. This 
harbor, with the expense of 1 or 
2000 dollars, it is thought, might 
be made to answer very important 
purposes, both public and private. 
The boat fishery is carried on to 
considerable advantage, particular- 
ly in the fall and winter seasons. 
There was formerly a large fresh 
water pond, lying contiguous to 
the sand bank or hounds of the sea 
covering a surface of about 300 
acres. Between this and the sea, a 
communication was opened by the 
inhabitants about a century since. 
The waters were discharged into 
the sea, leaving a tract cf maish 
which, being watered by the regular 
flowing of the tide, yields annually 
large quantities of salt hay. Break- 
fas{|Hill, between this town and 



Greenland, is distinguished as the 
plate where a party of Indians were 
surprised at breakfast, at the time 
of their incursion in 1696. There 
are small circular holes in the rocks 
of which this hill is principally 
composed, supposed to have been 
made use of by the natives. This 
town has sufiered considerably in 
times of war and danger. In 1694^ 
John Locke, living on the Neck, 
was ambushed and killed by the In- 
dians, while reapinji grain in his 
field. In 1696, at one time, 21 per- 
sons, at Sandy beach, were either 
killed or carried away by them. In 
the Canada or Frencli war, 14 per- 
sons, belonging to this town, were 
killed or died, in service : and 
in the American or revolutionary 
war, 38 of its inhabitants lost their 
lives, by sea or land ; most of thera 
young men. A meeting-house was 
first erected here, about the year 
1725 ; a church was organized July 
20, 1726 ; and the Rev. Nathaniel 
Morrill, ordained 14th Sej»t. of the 
same year. He centinwed in the min- 
istry about seven years, and was 
then dismissed. His successor. Rev. 
Samuel Parsons, was ordained Nov. 
1736 ; and deceased Jan. 4, 1789, in 
the 78th year of his age, and the 53d 
of his ministry. His memory is still 
dear to those who survive him, and 
recollect his virtues. During his min- 
istry, 206 persons were admitted in- 
to full communion with the church, 
and between six and seven hun- 
dreds received baptism. Rev. Hun- 
ting-ton Porter J). D. was ordained, 
as colleague Vt'ith Mr. Parsons, Dec. 
29, 1784. From that time to 1822, 
84 have been received into full 
communion, and 811 baptized. Dur- 
ing the same period, 31 members of 
the chprch have been dismissed, or 
removed from this to other towns, 
and a few more than that number 
have died, The present oumber of 



230 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



communicants is between 50 and 
60. There has been a social library 
in this town for many years. The 
proprietors of the one, now existing 
were incorporated in 1812. The 
library contains at present about 
220 volumes, and is annually in- 
creasing. The annual average 
number of deaths, in this town, for 
37 years past, is between 11 and 12, 
or not far from one to an hundred. 
In the year 1803, during Feb.,March 
and a part of April, a very unusual 
sickness and mortality prevailed in 
this town. In the course of less 
than 3 months, 230 persons were 
visited with sickness, of various 
kinds ; while other towns in general, 
around, enjoyed usual health. The 
deaths were 35 ; a number remark- 
ably large for so short a time, in 
proportion to the number of inhab- 
itants ; though not very great con- 
sidering the number visited with 
sickness. Accoiding to received, 
and pretty authentic accounts, about 
40 persons, chiefly strangers, have 
at different -times, lost their lives, 
and been taken up, on, or near the 
coast, within the limits of the town ; 
to whom, though strangers, a decent 
iBurial was given, attended with 
those solemnities, which are usual 
on funeral occasions. The oldest 
person who has died here, within 
present recollection, was a female, 
by the name of Tucker, being 99 
years and 9 months old. Several 
other persons have exceeded 90 
years. Pop. 1127. 



SAco,a river,one of the largest in 
^ew-England, has its source near 
the Notch of the White Mountains 
within a few feet of the sources of 
the Lower Amonoosuck. It thence 
ilows in a S. course down the moun- 
tains about 12 miles ; then taking 
an easterly direction, it enters the 



town of Bartlett, where it receives 
Ellis' river, which rises in the east- 
erly pass of the mountain near the 
source of Peabody river. Within 
the distance of half a mile from 
these fountains, two large streams 
flow down the highest of the moun- 
tains, one of them into Ellis' river. 
The former of these is Cutlers riv- 
er and the latter is New river. The 
latter made its appearance in Octo- 
ber, 1775, during a long rain. In 
its course,it broke down many rocks 
and trees and presented a wide 
spectacle of ruin. At its junction 
with Ellis' river, there is a noble 
cascade of 100 feet in height. Sev- 
eral other branches of Saco river 
flow from other parts of the moun- 
tains. From Bartlett the course of 
the Saco is S., about 10 miles to 
the lower part of Conway, where 
it receives Swift river from Burton, 
thence in an easterly course, it pass- 
es into Fryeburg and Brownfield 
in Maine, and from thence tn the 
sea, it has a S. E. course of about 
45 miles. This river rises and over- 
flows very suddenly in rainy sea- 
sons, and subsides very rapidly af- 
ter the cessation of the rains. In 
the great flood of 1775, when the 
New river broke out, the banks of 
the Saco were overflowed very sud- 
denly, and the waters were of a 
deep brown color for several days., 
probably from passing ovej; iron 
ore. On the subsiding of the wa- 
ters, it was observed, that the bed 
of the river in some places was 
widened, and the course of several 
of its branches changed. In great 
freshes it has risen 25 feet, but its 
common rise is about 10 feet. 

Saddleback, between Deer- 
field and Northwood.is a part of the 
chain called Blue Hills. 

Salem, post-township, Rocking- 
ham county, in lat. 42° 47', 30 miles 
from Concord, 40 from Ptiiisinouih, 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



231 



34 from Boston, is bounded N. by 
Londonderry, N. E. by Atkinson, 
E. by Methuen, Ms. S. byPelham, 
W. by Windham; containing 15,600 
acres. Policy pond, partly in this 
Jown, and partly in Windham, is 
\he largest collection of water ; 
World' s-End pond and Captain pond 
are in the S. E. andE. parts of the 
town ; and there are other small 
ponds. The Spiggot river, passing 
from N. to S. through the town, re- 
ceives in its course numerous 
Jwranches, and waters the different 
portions of the town, furnishing also 
excellent mill privileges. The soil 
is generally fertile, and the surface 
uneven. The Londonderry turn- 
pike passes over this town, from N. 
W. to S. E. Tiiere is a mineral 
spring in this town, the waters of 
which have been used. There is 
one woollen factory, besides mills 
and other machinery. Salem was 
incorporated by charter May 11, 
1750. Rev. Abner Bayley, who 
was born at Newbury, Ms. Jan. 19, 
1716, graduated at Harvard college 
in 1736; was ordained here over a 
congregational church,Jan. 30,1740 
died March 10, 1798. Rev. John 
Smith was settled colleague inl797-, 
dismissed in 1816. Rev. IVilliam 
Balch was ordained in 1319, and 
his church consists of about 40 mem 
bers. There is also a respectable 
society of methodists, who hare 
occasional preaching, and a small 
society of baptists. Hon. SiiiAS 
Betton, who graduated at Dart- 
mouth college in 1787, was elected 
a representative prior to 1800, was 
3 yeais senator from district No. 3, 
and in 1802 was elected member 
of congress. He subsequently filled 
the office of sheriff of the county of 
Rockinghaui. and died in 1822, aged 
— . Pop. 1311. 

Salisbury, a post-town, in Hills- 
borough county, in lat. 43° 23', is 



pleasantly situated on the W. banks 
jf Pemigewasset and Merrimack 
rivers, 15 miles N. of Concord and 
78 from Boston. It is bounded N. 
by Aiidover, E. by the rivers just 
mentioned, separating it from San- 
bornton and Nortnfield, S. by Bos- 
cawen, and W. by Warner, being 
9 miles from E. to W. and 4 miles 
from N. to S., and containing 
28,600 acres. The Pemigewasset 
waters the E. part, and unites with 
the Winnepisiogee, forming the 
Merrimack. Boat navigation ter- 
aiinates a short distance above the 
junction of these rivers. When a 
few obstructions are removed, and 
one or two locks erected on the 
Merrimack above Concord, com- 
munication by water, through the 
Middlesex canal, will be rendered 
safe and easy from Boston to the 
E. village in this town. Black- 
water river passes through the 
W. part of Salisbury. (See Black- 
water river.) There are 5 bridges 
across this stream in this town. 
The 4th N. H. turnpike passes from 
N. W. to S. E. and is incorpora- 
ted for the term of 40 years. The 
forest trees on the rivers are pitch, 
Norway, and white pine, white, 
black and yellow oak. The most 
valuable trees have been cut for 
building and for ship timber. The 
hilly lands were originally covered 
with a heavy growth of sugar ma- 
ple, white maple, beech, birch, elm, 
ash and red oak — the valleys were 
interspersed with evergreens. The 
soil of the upland is strong, deep 
and loamy ; producing Indian corn 
oats, peas, beans, flax, rye, &c. 
The hilly land affords some fine 
tracts for tillage, but chiefly abounds 
in excellent pasturage. The valleys 
produce grass. On Blackwater riv- 
er, there is some very fertile inter- 
val, which united with the adjacent 
hilly land, composes, several very 



232 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



▼aluable farms. A short turn in 
the Merrimack to the E. forms a 
fine tract of fertile interval, of 
about 300 acres, which appears t<j 
be an alluvion of the river. Tht 
mineralogical productions have 
never been scientifically examined. 
The prevailing rock is granite. A 
Sne quarry has lately been discov- 
ered on Mr. William Webster's 
farm, yielding readily to the wedge 
and hammer. A considerable por- 
tion of Kearsarge mountain ranges 
within thfc b uads of Salisbuiy.the N. 
W. corner bound of which extend;- 
nearly to the summit. {See Kear- 
sarge mountain.) The summit or 
this mountain was formerly cov 
sred with evergreens ; but its 
floud-capped head has long been 
stripped of its primitive honors by 
the combined agency of fire and 
wind. It now presents a bald roci 
of granite, many parts of which 
appear to be in a gradual state of 
disintegration. In the spring of 
1819, a large mass of rocks and 
eartli of several thousand tons' 
weight was loosened from the 
southern declivity of Bald hill and 
precipitated with great violence to 
the valley below, carrying all be- 
fore it, for the space of 40 rods \\\ 
length and 4 in breadth. The pros- 
pect from the summit of Kearsar^^t 
is variegated and highly magniii- 
cent. Theie are 3 considerable 
villages, t'ne South road, the Centre 
road, and Pemigewasset, or East 
village. The first is pleasantly sit- 
uated on the S. road, running from 
E. to W. through the town, and a; 
so on the 4th N. H. turnpike, lead- 
ing to Hanover. This is also on 
the northern mail route from Boston 
to Burlington, Vl. It contains about 
30 houses, 1 congregational njeet- 
ing-house, 2 stores, 1 tavern, 2 
law offices, 1 post office and the 
academy. The Centre Road vil- 



lage is 1 1-2 miles N. W. of the 
_ieceding, on the same mail route, 
ii. contains 30 dwelling houses, a 
baptist meeting-house, 3 stores, 1 
law office, &c. The scenery here 
is beautiful and picturesque in a 
iijgh degree. The distant azure 
mountains, the fertilizing streams, 
the " tempest torn rocks," the ex- 
panded hills, cultivated fields, the 
glens, and valieys, and extensive 
pasture grounds, interspersed with 
ibrests,conspire to render it delight- 
ful to the eye, and to afford fine sub- 
jects for the pencil. Pemigewas- 
set, or East village is in the N. E, 
corner of the town> at the great 
falls on Pemigewasset river. Here 
are an elegant meeting-house.a num- 
ber of handsome dwelling houses, 
2 stores, 1 tavern, 1 post office, &c. 
Boats laden with 20 tons have al- 
ready passed up to this place. A 
to.l biidge across the Pemigewasset 
leads from this village to Sanborn- 
lon and Northfield. About 3 miles 
below this village, on the alluvion 
before mentioned, is a pleasant set- 
dement of fanners, containing 10 
or 12 dwelling houses, several me- 
chanic shops, and one law office. 
There is a flourishing academy in 
the S. Road village, incorporated 
Dec. 10, 1808. The late Benjamin 
Gale, Esq., a worthy and respecta- 
ble citizen of Salisbury, made a 
donation of $1000 to this institu- 
tion. The Literary Adelphi soci- 
ety, consisting of the students of 
the academy, has a library of 100 
volumes. This town has had a con- 
^;iderable number of its natives lib- 
erally educated, some of whom 
take their rank among the first ad- 
vocates not only in this state, but 
n the U. S. Tlieir names are as 
bllows, viz. at Dartmouth college, 
—1794, Moses Eastman, A. M. — 
1799, Rev. Moses Sawyer, A. M. — 
1801,Hon. Daniel Webster,LL,D.— 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



231 



1804, EbenezerO. Fifield, A. B. ;j 
Thomas H. Pettengill, A. M. ; Eze- ' 
kiel Webster, A. M— 1805, Na- 
thaniel Sawyer, A. B.— 1806, John 
True, A. B.— 1808, Ichabod Bart- 1 
lett, A.M.; 1811, Rev. Valentine! 
Little, A. B.— 1812, James Bart-! 
lett, A. M.— 1813, Joseph Ward- 
well, A. B.— 1816, Charles B. 
Hadduck, A. M.— 1817, Rev. Ben- 
jamin Huntoon, A, M.--1819, Wil- 
liam T. Hadduck, A. M.— 1821. 
Joseph B. Eastman, A. B. At 
Middlebury college, 1812, Benja- 
min Pettengill, A. M. There is a 
library of 324 volumes. There is 
also a musical society. Salisbury 
was originally granted by Massa- 
chusetts, and was known by the 
name of Bakers-town. It was af- 
terwards granted by the Masonian 
proprietors, Oct. 25, 1749, and then 
called Stevens-town, from Col. Eb- 
enezer Stevens, of Kingston. The 
number of grantees was 67, of 
whom 54 belonged to Kingston. It 
was incorporated by charter from 
the government of N. H., March 1, 
1768, when it took the name of 
Salisbury. It was settled as early 
as 1750. The first settlers were 
Philip Call, Nathaniel Meloon, 
Benjamin Pettengill, John and Eb- 
enezer Webster, Andrev/ Bohon- 
non, Edward Eastman, and many 
others, mostly from Kingston. The 
first inhabitants experienced the in- 
roads of the Indians. On the 16th 
of May, 1753, Nathaniel Meloon, 
living in the W. part of the town, 
was captvired, together with his 
wife, and three children, viz. Sarah, 
Rachel, and Daniel. They were 
carried to Canada, where he and 
his wife were sold to the French 
in Montreal. The three children 
were kept by the Indians. After 
the parents had resided in Mon- 
treal about a year and a half, they 
had a son born, who was baptized 



W 



by a French friar by the name of 
Joseph Mary. Mr. Meloon return- 
ed from captivity after four years 
and a half, to his farm in Salisbu- 
ry. Sarah died with the Indians. 
Rachel, who was 9 years old when 
captured, returned after 9 years. 
She had become much attached to 
the Indians, was about to be marri- 
ed to Peter Louis, son of Col. Lou- 
is, of Cognawaga. She had the 
habits, and acted like an Indian, 
understood the Indian language 
and could sing their songs. In Au- 
gust, 1753, the wife of Philip Call 
was killed ; and on the same day, 
Samuel Scribner and Robert Bar- 
ber, of this town, and Enos Bishop, 
of Boscawen, were captured by the 
Indians. Scribner was sold to the 
French at Chamblee, and Barber to 
a Frenchman near St. Francois. It 
was in Salisbury, that Sabatis and 
Plausawa, mentioned under Can- 
terbury, were buried underabiidge 
now called Indian bridge. The 
congregational church was formed 
Nov. 17, 1773, consistmg of 10 
male members. Rev. Jonathan 
Searle, who graduated at Harvard 
college, was ordained Nov. 17, 
1773 ; dismissed Nov. 8, 1791 ; 
died in 1818, aged 74. Rev. Thom- 
as Worcester was ordained No- 
vember 9, 1791 ; dismissed in 
April, 1823. Under his ministry, 
270 were added to the church. 
The baptist society was established 
May 25,1789. A church was consti- 
tuted May 10, 1810, consisting of 9 
members. Rev. Otis Robinson 
commenced preaching in 1809, and 
has continued the minister of tne 
society ever since. Hon. Ebene- 
ZER Webster was one of the 
early settlers ; a patriot of the rev= 
olution ; an officer of the militia ; 
for several years a senator in the 
legislature, and a judge of the court 
of common pleas till his death in 
1806. Dr. Joseph Bartlstt was the 



334 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



first justice of the peace and the 
first physician in town. Capt. 
Matthew Pettengill was a useful 
and respected citizen. Pop. 2000. 

Salmon Fall., a river.— 5'ee 
Pascataqua. In this river, between 
Rochester and Lebanon, Me. is < 
fall, which, from its singularity, de 
serves notice. The river is confin 
ed between two rocks, about 25 feet 
high, the breadth at the top of the 
bank not more than 3 rods. It is cal- 
led the^wme, and is about 4 rods in 
length, its breadth varying from 2 
1-2 feet to less than 1 foot ; but here 
the water has a subterraneous pas- 
sage. In the rocks are many cavi- 
ties from 1 to 7 feet in diameter, 
mostly cylindrical, and from 1 to 4 
feet in depth. 

Sanbornton, post-township, co. 
of Strafford, in lat. 43° 31', is situat- 
ed on the peninsula formed by Great 
and Little bays and Winnepisiogee 
river on the E. and S., and the 
Pemigewasset on the W. These 
two rivers unite at the S. W. cor- 
ner of the town, and form the Mer- 
rimack. Sanbornton has New- 
Hampton and Meredith on the N., 
Gilmanton E. and S. E., North- 
field S., a part of Salisbury, Ando- 
ver, and part of New-Chester on the 
W. ; and is 20 miles from Concord, 
60 from Portsmouth, 9 from Gilford. 
The bays and rivers encircling this 
town measure nearly 30 miles, and 
the bay between Sanbbrnton and 
Meredith is three miles in width. 
There arc no rivers or ponds of mag- 
nitude in this town, though it is al- 
most surrounded by water. Salmon 
brook pond, in the N. part, and a 
brook of the same name its outlet, 
are the only ones worth mentioning. 
This brook passes through the N. 
W. part of the town, and affords 
several mill-sites. There are also 
e35:cellent rail! privileges on the 
WJn-nepisiogee river. Over this 



river arc 8 bridges. Sanbornton 
presents an uneven surface, but 
contains no considerable mountains 
with the exception of Salmon brook 
mountains in the N. part of the 
town. The highest hills, with one or 
two exceptions, admit of cultiva- 
tion. The soil is almost universally 
good, and well rewards the labor of 
patient industry. There is a gulf 
in this town extending nearly a mile 
through very hard rocky ground, 38 
feet in depth, the walls from 80 to 
100 feet asunder, and the sides so 
nearly corresponding as to favor an 
opinion that they were once united. 
There is also a cavern in the de- 
clivity of a hill, which may be en- 
tered in a horizontal direction to 
the distance of 20 feet. This town 
was once the residence of a power- 
ful tribe of Indians, or at least a 
place where they resorted for de- 
fence. On the Winnepisiogee, at 
the head of Little Bay, are found 
the remains of an ancient fortifica- 
tion. It consisted of six walls, one 
extending along the river, and a- 
cross a point of land into the bay, 
and the others in right angles,con- 
nected by a circular wall in the 
rear. Traces of these walls are 
yet to be seen, though most of the 
stones, &c. of which they were com- 
posed have been removed to the 
dam thrown across the river at this 
place. Within the fort have beea 
found numbers of Indian relics, im- 
plements, &;c., and also on an island 
in the bay. When the first settlers 
of Sanbornton arrived, these walls 
were breast high, and large oaks 
were growing within their enclo- 
sure. This town was granted by 
the Masonian proprietors in 1748, 
to several persons of the name of 
Sanborn, and others ; and was set- 
tled in 1765 and 1766, by John San- 
born, David Duston, Andrew Row- 
en and others. It was incorporated 



KEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



235 



March 1, 1770. Rev. Joseph Wood 
man was ordained in Nov. 1771 
when there were about 50 families 
sn town. His church then consist- 
ed of 7 members. He was dismissed 
in 1806, and died in 1807. Rev 
Abraham Bodwell, was ordained 
Nov. 13, 1806, when the church 
consisted of 50 members •, there are 
now about 150. Rev. John Crockett 
was settled here over the first bap- 
tist church in 1793, now consisting 
of about 230 members. Another 
baptist church has recently been 
established. In order to perpetuate 
'preaching in the society to which 
they belonged, a few liberal individ- 
uals some time since formed them- 
selves into an association, to which 
they gave the name of the " Con- 
gregational Fund Association." 
Each member gave his security to 
the amount of his rateable estate 
for that year ; and the interest is 
appropriated ajanually to the in- 
crease of the funds, which now 
amount to about $1400. Here are 
two social libraries, each contain- 
jng between 200 and 300 volumes. 
The academy, incorporated in 1820, 
is at present in a flourishing state. 
From 1790, to 1822, the deaths in 
this town were 977, or about 31 
yearly. Mrs. Copp and Mrs. Smart 
*ire living in Sanbornton, at the 
age of 100 each. Pop. 3329. 

Sandown, township, Rocking- 
ham county, in lat. 42° 57', is boun- 
ded N. by Chester and Poplin, E. 
byHawke, S. by Harnpstead, W. 
by Chester and Londonderry. It 
Is 31 miles from Concord, and con- 
tains 8,532 acres— 200 of which 
are water. The surface of this 
town is rather uneven, but the soil 
in general is well adapted to the 
production of various kinds of grain 
and grass. Phillip's pond, lying in 
the S. part of the town, is the lar- 
gest, being about 340 rods long, 



200 wide. Angle pond, in the S. 
E. part of this town, is about 200 
rods long, and 90 or 100 wide. 
There are several other smaller 
ponds. Squamscot river flows from 
Phillip's pond, and pursues a nearly 
level course for 1 1-2 miles, where 
another stream unites with it : from 
this junction, whenever the waters 
are raised by sudden freshes, the 
current passes back with consider- 
able force towards the pond. The 
settlement of Sandown was com- 
menced about the year 1736, by 
Moses Tucker, Israel and James 
Huse, and others. A congregation* 
al church was formed here in 1759, 
which consisted of 57 members. 
Rev. Josiah Cotton was ordained 
the same year, and died in 1780. 
He was succeeded by Rev. Samu- 
el Collins, who was settled that 
year; but was removed in 1788. 
In 1795, a brother of the late Pres- 
ident Webber, Rev. John Webber, 
was settled, who was removed in 
1800. Since that period the church 
has been vacant. A methodist 
church v.'as formed in 1807, con- 
sisting of about 30 members — and 
ministers of that denomination 
preach here statedly, and of other*? 
occasionally. They have but one 
place of public worship. The post 
roads from Boston to Concord, and 
from Exeter to Chester pass througii 
Sandown. The town was origin 
ally a part of Kingston, and was 
incorporated April 6, 1756. It con- 
tains 527 inhabitants — the number 
having decreased since 1790. 

Sandwich, post-town, Strafford 
county, in lat. 43° 50', is bounded 
N. by ungranted lands, E. by Bur- 
ton and Tamworth, S. by Moulton- 
borough, W. by Holderness, Camp- 
ton, and Thornton. It is 70 miles 
from Portsmouth, and about 50 
from Concord. This town was 
originally granted by Gov. Beaniog 



3^ 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Wentwortki, Oct. 25, 1763, and 
comprised 6 miles square. On the 
5th Sept. 1764, upon the represen- 
tation of the grantees that the N. 
and W. sides thereof were " so 
loaded with inaccessible mountains 
and shelves of rocks as to be un- 
inhabitable" — an additional grant 
'.vas made of territory on the E. 
and S., called Sandwich Addition. 
The Sandwich mountains are a 
!ofty range extending N. E. and 
terminating in Chocorua Peak in 
Burton. Squam mountain, extend- 
ing from Holderness through a cor- 
ner of Campton into Sandwich, is 
of considerable height. There are 
other considerable mountains. The 
Bearcamp river, its branches rising 
in the mountains N. and W., pas- 
ses E. into Tamworth. The W. 
branch passes through Bearcamp 
pond. There is another pond not 
far distant from this, from which is- 
sues Red Hill river, passing S. into 
the Winnepisiogee lake. A small 
stream passes W. into the Pemige- 
wasset river. About one fourth of 
Squam lake lies in the S. W. cor- 
ner of Sandwich ; and taken in 
connection with the surrounding 
mountains, affords many fine views, 
Here is an oil mill, several saw and 
grain mills, besides other machine- 
xy. A congregational church was 
established here some years since ; 
but no minister was ever settled 
There are respectalile societies of 
methodists, freewill baptists and 
friends ; and people of other de- 
nominations. Hon. Daniel Bee 
DE, for a number of years, repre- 
sentative to the general court, a 
justice of the quorum and a judge 
of the court of common pleas, re- 
sided in this town, and was a useful 
and respected character. Pop. 
2368. 

Sawyer's Location. See J^ash 
fxn4 Sawyer's Lfication. 



ScBTOOGAWNOCK, the Indian 
name of Israel's river. 

SeABROok, a township, in Rock- 
ingham county, lat. 42° 53', is situ- 
ated at the S. E. corner of the state, 
17 miles S. S. W. of Portsmouth, 
and 7 N. of Newburyport, bounded 
N. by Hampton-Falls, E. by the 
Atlantic, S. by Massachusetts, W. 
by South-Hampton and Kensing- 
ton. It was formerly a part of 
Hampton-Falls, and was granted 
June 3, 1768 to Jonathan Weare, 
Richard Smith,JohB Moulton,Eben- 
ezer Knowlton, Winthrop Gove, 
Henry Robie, Elis\ja Brawn, Benja- 
min Leavitt.Isaac Brown and others: 
Settlements commenced here in 
1638, by Christopher Hussey, Jo- 
seph Dow, and Thomas Philbrick, 
The place on which the latter set- 
tled, has continued in the immedi- 
ate possession of his descendants 
unto the 6th generation, who still 
possess the same. The rivers are 
Black river. Brown's river and 
Walton's river. Many of the rivu- 
lets abound with bog ore of iron. 
The public buildings are a town 
house and 3 houses of public wor- 
ship, one for presbyterians, one for 
methodists, and one for friends. 
This town derives its name from 
the number of rivers and riv- 
ulets meandering through it. A 
society of friends was formed here 
in 1701. A presbyterian society 
was formed in 1764 ; and Rev. 
Samuel Perley ordained in 1765 ; 
removed in 1775. Rev. EliasHull, 
settled in 1799,died February, 1822, 
aged 44. A methodist society was 
formed in 1820. Tliere is a social 
library, consisting of 200 vol- 
umes. There has been some re- 
markable instances of longevny. 
Mrs, Comfort Collins lived to the 
age of 105; Phebe Dow to 101 ; and 
several others to 90 and upwards. 
The average number -of deaths a»^ 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



2S7' 



nually, is about 14. In 1737, the 
angina maligna prevailed and des- 
troyed many of its inhabitants. 
Whale-boat building is the most 
important manufacture, and is car- 
ried on to a greater extent than in 
any other town in N.England. The 
larger part of the male inhabitants 
are mechanics and seamen, the lat- 
ter of which are about 120. Perhaps 
no town in the state is better situated 
for carrying on the Bay and Labra- 
dor fisheries than this. Pop. 885. 

Sharon, a small township in 
the W. part of Hillsborough coun- 
ty, is bounded N. by Peterborough, 
E. by Temple, S. by New-Ipswich 
and Rindge, and W. by Jafifrey, 
containing about 10,000 acres. It 
is 18 miles from Amherst, and 48 
from Concord. The streams in 
Sharon are small branches of Con- 
toocook river, and rise near the 
S. E. corner of the town. They 
are sufficient to supply a grist 
mill with water only a part of the 
year. Boundary mountain lies on 
the line between this town and 
Temple, and has an elevation of 
200 feet above the surrounding 
country. The roads here are of 
little notoriety and travel, except 
the 3d N. H. turnpike, which passes 
through the S. W. extremity of 
she town. Sharon was incorpora- 
ted June 24, 1791. It has no reg- 
ularly organized religious society ; 
has no meeting-house, nor has ever 
had a settled minister. Pop. 400. 

Shelburne, township, Coos 
county, in lat. 44° 21', is bounded 
N. by Success and Maynesborough, 
E. by Maine, S. by unlocated lands, 
and W. by Durand, comprising an 
area of 45,140 acres. Ameriscog- 
gin river passes through the centre 
of this town, into which fall the 
waters of Rattle river and some 
smaller streams. The soil on each 
bank of the river is very good, pro- 
W2 



ducing in abundance grain and 
grass ; but as we rise from the riv- 
er, the tracts are mountainous and 
unfit for cultivation. Mount Mo- 
riah, an elevated peak of the 
White Mountains, lies in the S. 
part of Shelburne. Moses' Rock, 
so called from the first man known 
to have ascended it (Moses Ingalls) 
is on the S. side of the river near 
the centre of the town. It is about 
60 feet high and 90 long, very 
smooth, and rising in an angle of 
nearly 50°. In 1 775,David and Ben- 
jamin Ingalls commenced a settle- 
ment at Shelburne, and not long af- 
ter, several families were added. 
In August, 1781, a party of Indians 
visited this town, killed one man, 
made another j visoner, plundered 
the houses, and returned to Canada 
in savage triumph. This town 
was incorporated Dec. 13, 1820, 
There are three small societies, 
one of congregationalists, one of 
baptists and one of methodists; 
but no regular preacher. Pop. 205. 

Shoals. See Isles of Shoals. 

Sims' stream rises in the moun- 
tains in Columbia from several 
ponds and springs, and falls into 
the Connecticut river near the N. 
W. extremity of the town. 

Smith's river, in Grafton cona- 
ty, rises from several ponds in Graf- 
ton and Orange, and after pursuing 
a winding, but generally an E. 
course, of from 12 to 18 miles, 
through Danbury and Alexandria, 
falls into the Pemigewasset be- 
tween Bristol and New-Chester. 

Society-Land, a small town.- 
ship in Hillsborough co., is bound- 
ed N. by Deering, E. by Frances- 
town, S. by Greenfield, and W. by 
Hancock and Antrim, from which 
it is separated by Contoocook riv- 
er. It contains 3,300 acres. It is 
17 miles from Amherst and 33 from 
Concord. The land is generalh' 



238 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



uneven. There is a small moun- 
tain on its S. line, called Crotched 
mountain. There are no mills or 
mill seats. There are three school 
districts and one school house. 
There is a small baptist society ; 
also a meeting-house, built by Capt. 
Gideon Dodge, which, with a tract 
of land, was presented by him to 
the society. Society-Land former- 
ly included Hancock, Antrim, Hills- 
borough, Deering, Francestown and 
part of Greenfield. Tiie number 
of deaths for the last 20 years has 
been 41. Pop. 153. 

SOMERSWORTH, in the S. E. 
part of the county of Strafford, in 
iat. 43° 14', was formerly a part of 
Dover. It w as made a parish, Dec. 
19,1729 ; and incorporated April 22, 
1754. It is bounded N. W. by 
Rochester, N. E. by Salmon-fall 
river, which divides it from Ber- 
wick, Me., and S. W. bj-^ Dover. 
It is 11 miles from Portsmouth, and 
45 from Concord. Otis' hill, the 
highest in this town, is situated 
about a mile N. from Varney's hill 
in Dover. The White Mountains 
may be seen from the summit of 
this hill ; also the steeples of the 
meeting-houses in Portsmouth, and 
the masts of the shipping in the 
harbor. The soil in this town is 
well adapted to Indian com, and 
almost all kinds of grain, grass, &c. 
The growth of the wood land is oak, 
pine, walnut, elm, &c. The tide 
iiows on the E. side of this town 
four miles to Quamphegan falls. 
The river is of sufficient depth, till 
within a mile of said falls, for ves- 
sels of 250 tons. The S. part of 
this town is bounded on Coche- 
co river, from its confluence with 
the Pascataqua to the mouth of 
Fresh-creek, nearly a mile ; and 
ijrom thence by said creek to its 
head, nearly a mile and a half. 
There are but two ponds of note iq 



this town, viz. Humphrey's pond 
on the line of Dover, 200 rods long 
and 120 rods wide ; and Cole's 
pond, 150 rods long and 75 wide. 
There are several mineral springs 
in this town ; but at present their 
waters are not much used. Red 
and yellow ochre, also iron ore, 
have been found in this town. The 
ochre has been used in painting 
houses, and has been found to make 
a durable paint. The post road 
from Boston to Portland, and the 
Dover turnpike pass through thrs 
town and over Quamphegan bridge. 
There are three bridges over Sal- 
mon-fall river between this town 
and Berwick ; viz. at Quamphe- 
gan-falls, at Salmon-falls, and at the 
Great-falls, The first meeting-house 
in this town was erected in 1729 ; 
and taken down in 1773. The se- 
cond meeting-house was erected in 
1772; and consumed by lightning 
in a violent thunder storm. May 4, 
1779. It happened about the mid- 
dle of the day. Its severity was 
caused by the junction of two 
clouds directly over this town ; one 
of which rose in the N. W. and the 
other in the S. W. The clouds ran 
low ; and during the space of half 
an hour it rained and lightened in- 
cessantly, accompanied with tre- 
mendous peals of thunder. The 
steeple of the meeting-house was 
struck with the lightning which 
passed down by one of the posts 
of the belfry adjoining the house ; 
and in about an h<>ur it was in 
ashes. The bell was melted and 
fell in a state of fusion. The third 
meeting-house was erected in 1780, 
and is yet standing. Large and 
valuable factories have been erec- 
ted at Salmon-falls. The buildings 
are of brick, one 84 by 44 feet, 4 
stories in front and 6 in rear, for 
carding and spinning : another, 60 
by 31 feet, 3 stories by 4) for weav-' 



NEW -HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



239 



ing, dressing and fulling, capable 
of making 200 yards of superfine 
broad-cloth a day ; a third, 60 by 
30 feet, 2 stories, for dying, &c. 
There are grist and sawmills, an oil 
mill, &c. belonging to this establish 
ment, which promises to become 
V€ry extensive and profitable. There 
is also a nail factory in this town. 
This town was settled between 1650 
and 1700, by William Wentworth, 
John Hall, Wni. Stiles and others 
George Richer and Meturin Ricker 
were surprised and killed by a 
party of Indians lying in ambush 
about half a mile N. E. from Var- 
ney's hill, Oct. 7, 1675. They had 
their arms with them, which to- 
gether with their upper garments 
were carried away by the Indians. 
Ebenezer Downs, who was a qua- 
ker, was taken by the Indians at 
Indigo hill in 1724, and carried to 
Canada. He was grossly insulted 
and abused by them, because he re- 
fused to dance as the other prison 
ers did for the diversion of thei. 
savage captors. He was redeemed 
in 1725, by John Hanson of Dover, 
Jabez Garland was killed by the 
Indians on his return from public 
worship in the summer of 1710 
about three quarters of a mile N 
E. from Varney's hill. Gershom 
Dow^ns was killed by the Indian 
in 1711, in the marsh between Var- 
ney's hill and Otis' hill. Rev. James 
Pike, the first minister of Somers- 
wovth, was born at Newbury, Ms. 
March 1, 1703; grauuated at Har 
vard college in 1725 ; was ordain- 
ed Oct. 28, 1730 ; and died March 
19,1792. Rev. Pearson Tl.urstcr. 
was born at Lancaster, Ms. in Dec. 
1763; graduated at Dartmoutli col- 
lege in 1787; was ordained Feb. 1, 
1792; removed Dec. 2. 1812; ano 
died at Leominster, Ms. Aug. 15, 
1819. The house in which Mr. 
Thurston lived was consumed by 
fire, Jan. 22, 1812, together with the 



church records, communion vessels, 
and a sncial library. The church 
is now vacant. Nicholas Pike, 
son of Rev. James Pike and author 
of a popular system of arithmetic, 
was born in this town, October 6, 
1743. He was graduated at Har- 
vard college, 1766; taught a gram- 
mar school, first at York, and af- 
terwards at Newburyport; where 
he died Dec. 9,1819. John Wekt- 
M^ORTH. son of the Hon. John 
Wentworth, was born in this town, 
July 14, 1745; and was graduated 
at Harvaid college, 1768. He en- 
tered on the study of the law, and 
settled at Dover. When applica- 
tion was made to him to put an ac- 
tion in suit, it was his practice to 
see the parties or to write to them, 
stating the consequences of a 
legal process, and advising them 
to settle their differences between 
themselves. By this mode of pro- 
cedure he was instrumental in pre- 
venting many vexatious lawsuits; 
and was entitled to the appellation 
of peace-maker. He was a mem- 
ber of the continental congress in 
the revolution, and died January 
10, 1787. Col. Paul Went- 
worth, by his will, bequeathed 
£500 to the parish in this town ; 
the interest of which was to be ex- 
pended for pious and charitable 
uses. He also gave a silver tan- 
kard and cup for the use of the 
church. He died June 24, 1748. 
Dr. MoSES Carr was born at 
Newbury, Ms. Nov. 1715. He 
came to this town in 1735 ; where 
be practised in his profession more 
than 60 years with reputation, and 
died March 30, 1800. Hon. Thom- 
as Wallingford was born at 
Bradford, Mass. in 1697. He came 
to this town in the early part of his 
life; and by a diligpnt application 
to business, from a small beginning 
became one of the richest men in 
the province. He was one of the 



240 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



judges of the superior court, and 
died Aug. 4, 1771. Hon. Johk 
Wentworth was born in this 
town March 30, 1719. He t.as 
one of the judges of the superior 
court, and died May 18, 1781. Hon. 
IcHABOD Rollins, was born in 
this town, 1721. He was a judge 
of probate for the county of 
Strafiford, and died Jan. 31, 1800. 
The number of deaths in this town 
since the beginning of the present 
century wil) average 12 annually ; 
or 1 in 70 of its inhabitants. Dur- 
ing the last 20 years, 28 have died 
between 70 and 80, 17 between 80 
and 90, and 7 between 90 and 100 
years of age. Samuel Downs died 
April 22, 1820, aged 99. Mrs. Ly- 
dia Stiles is now living(1823)atlhe 
age of 101 years. She was born 
Feb. 27, 1722, is a member of the 
church, and travelled on foot two 
miles to public worship till she was 
90 years of age. Pop. 841. 

SovcooK river has 'ts source in 
three ponds in the S. part of Gil- 
manton, lyirg near each other, 
called Loon, Rocky and Shellcamp 
ponds. It passes through Loudon, 
receiving several branches, and 
forms the boundary between Con- 
cord and Pembroke, falling into the 
Merrimack below Garven's falls. 

SouHEGAN, originally Souhege- 
nack, the name of a river in Hills- 
borough county, and the former 
name of Amherst and Merrimack. 
The principal branch of this river 
originates from a pond in Ashburn- 
ham, Ms. It passes N. through Ash- 
by, at the N. W. angle of the coun- 
ty of Middlesex, into New-Ipswich, 
and through Mason, Milford, Am- 
kcrst, into Merrimack, where it 
unites with Merrimack river. In 
its course it receives several streams 
from Temple, Lyndeborough and 
Mont-Vemon, and just before it 
falls into the Merrimack, receives 
Babboosuck brook, a considerable 



stream issuing from Babboosuck 
pond. See Amherst. 

South-Hampton, township, 
Rockingham county, in lat. 42° 53', 
is bounded N. by East-Kingston 
and Kensington, E. by Seabrook, 
S. by Amesbury, Ms., W. by New- 
town ; and is 50 miles from Con- 
cord, 18 from Portsmouth, and 45 
from Boston. The surface is gen- 
erally even, and the soil of a good 
quality. Powow river passes 
through this town, affording valua- 
ble mill seats. South-Hampton 
was incorporated by charter, May 
25, 1742. Rev. William Parsons, 
who graduated at Harvard college 
in 1735, was ordained here over a 
congregational church in 1743 ; and 
dismissed Oct. 6, 1762. Rev. Na- 
thaniel Noyes, was settled Feb. 23, 
1763; and dismissed Dec. 8, 1800. 
Since that time, there has been no 
stated worship. There are people 
of other denominations here, who 
have occasional preaching. Hon. 
Phillips White, v/ho was a 
member of the old congress, justice 
of the peace throughout the state, 
a counsellor in 1792 and 1793, and 
formally years judge of probate.di- 
ed June 24,1811,aged 82. Pop.416. 

Spiggot river rises in Hamp- 
stead, and passes through Salem, 
and into the Merrimack between 
Methuen and Diticut, Ms. nearly 
opposite Shawsheen river, which 
comes from the S. through Andover. 
SpAFFORd's lake. SeeChester/ield. 

Springfield, a post-township, 
in Cheshire county, in lat. 43° 30', 
is bounded N. by Grafton, E. by 
Wilmot, S. E. by New-London, S. 
by Wendell and Croydon, W. by 
Croydon and Grantham, containing 
28,330 acres, 2300 of which are 
water. It is 35 miles from Concord 
and 90 from Boston. A branch of 
Sugar river has its source in this 
town ; and also a branch of the 
Blackivater river. Tbe former e»p 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



241 



ties into the Connecticut, the latter 
into the Merrimack. There are 
several ponds, viz. Station pond, 
about 250 rods long, 140 vi^ide ; Cil- 
ley pond, 240 rods long, and about 
80 wide ; Star, Stony, and Morgan's 
ponds. The land is rough and 
stony, but the soil is capable of 
producing the various agricultural 
products found in the contiguous 
towns. In 1820, there were pro- 
duced 17,500 lbs. of butter, 25,000 
lbs. of cheese, 45,000 lbs. of beef, 
60,000 lbs. of pork, 5,500 lbs. of flax, 
and 200 barrels of cider. There 's, 
in the E. part of the town, a quarry 
of stone, from which can be raised 
stones from 20 to 30 feet in length 
and from 8 to 12 inches in thickness. 
There is a library,which was incor- 
porated Dec. 15, 1803. This town 
was granted Jan. 3, 1769, by the 
name of Protedivorth, to John Fish- 
er, Daniel Warner, Esquires, and 
58 others Its first settlement com- 
menced in 1772, by Israel Clifford, 
Israel Clifford, Jr. Nathaniel Clark, 
Samuel Stevens and others. It was 
incorporated by the name of Spring- 
field, Jan. 24, 1794. The spotted 
fever prevailed here a few years 
since, of which several children 
died. The average number of 
eieaths per annum.for 20 years past 
has been 6. There is a congrega 
clonal church, but it is destitute of 
a minister. Pop. about 1000. 

SauAMScOT, or Swamscoi, called 
also Great or Exeter river. See 
Exeter. 

SauAM lake, lying on the bor- 
ders of Holderness, Sandwich. 
Moultonborough and Centre-Har- 
bor, is " a splendid sheet of water, 
indented by points, arched with 
coves, and studded with a succes 
sion of romantic islands." It ii 
about 6 miles in length, and where 
widest', not less than 3 miles in 
breadth. The surface has been es- 
timated at from 6000 to 7000 acres 



The largest island is about 1 mile 
long, and 1-3 of a mile wide. A 
communication by water between 
this lake and Winnepisiogee might 
be easily effected, the distance be- 
ing less than 2 miles. 

SauAM river, the outlet of Squara 
lake through Squam pond in Hol- 
derness, forms a junction with the 
Pemigewasset near the S. W. an- 
gle of that town. 

SauAMANAGONicK, the name 
of a village at the falls on Coche- 
co river in Rochester— so called 
from the Indian name of the falls. 

State-House. Seep. 41. 

State Prison. Seep. 43. 

Stewartstown, township, Co- 
os county, in lat. 44° 56', lies on 
the E side of the Connecticut, 
which washes its W. boundary a 
distance of 7 miles: it is bounded 
S. by Colebrook, N. by the first Col- 
lege grant, E. by Dixville ; distant 
150 miles from Portland, 170 from 
Portsmouth, 150 from Concord — 
containing about 27,000 acres. The 
Connecticut river is about 15 rods 
in width at this place. Bishop's 
brook, a considerable stream, rises 
in this town, and falls into the Con- 
necticut at the N.W. corner. Dead 
water and Mohawk rivers have 
their sources here. Hall's stream, 
also, unites with the Connecticut in 
Stcwartstown. There are 2 ponds in 
the E. part of this town, called Lit- 
tle and Great Diamond ponds, the 
waters of which form the Diamond 
river, passing S. E. into Margalla- 
way river, a branch of tlie Ameris- 
coggin. The larger of these ponds 
is one mile long, 3-4 mile wide ; the 
smaller, 3-4 mile wide, 100 rods 
long — both well stocked with sal- 
mon trout. There is another pond 
in the W. part of this town, called 
Back pond,covering about 60 acres. 
There are no large mountains in 
Stcwartstown, although there are 



ut 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



many elevations. The soil of the 
interval is rich, and the uplands 
are not unproductive. The growth 
of wood is a mixture of sugar ma- 
ple, birch, beech, ash, spruce, fir, 
&c. Stewartstown was original- 
ly granted by Gov. John Went- 
worth to four individuals, viz. Sir 
George Cockburn, Sir George Cole- 
brook, John Stewart and John Nel- 
son, Esqrs. — three of whom resid- 
ed in England. Before the revolu- 
lion, they surveyed the lands, and 
gave a few lots to settlers, who 
made some small improvements. 
But after the commencement of hos- 
tilities, they abandoned their set- 
tlements until peace was restored. 
Improvements were then made un- 
der grants from Col. David Webster, 
sheriff of Grafton. Stewartstown 
was incorporated in Dec. 1799. 
During the late war a block-house 
or fort was erected in this town for 
defence by a company of militia, 
and occupied until Aug. 1814, v/hen 
it was destroyed. On the site of 
this fort, the American and British 
surveyors and astronomers, met to 
ascertain the 45° of north lati- 
tude between the two governments, 
under the treaty of Ghent. Pop. 
363. 

Stoddard, post-township in the 
E. part of Cheshire county, in lat. 
43° 4', is bounded N. by Wash- 
ington, E. by Windsor and Antrim, 
S. by Nelson and Sullivan, and W. 
by Gilsum and Marlow, containing 
35,925 acres, of which 1100 are 
water. It is 14 miles from Keene, 
30 from Cl^arlestown and 42 from 
Concord. This town is situated on 
the height of land between Merri- 
mack and Connecticut rivers. It 
is mountainous and very rocky. 
The soil is deep, with a clay bottom. 
As cold and moisture are its pre- 
dominant qualities, Indian corn 
does not thrive well, except in hot 



and dry seasons. Rye and wheat 
succeed well on lands newly clear- 
ed ; and ploughed lands produce 
good crops of barley, eats, flax, po- 
tatoes, &c. The soil however is 
better adapted to grazing than til- 
lage. The S. branch of Ashuelot 
river has its source near the centre 
of the town. The streams in the 
E. section, fall into the Merrimack ; 
those on the W. into the Connec- 
ticut. There are fourteen ponds, 
some of which are of considerable 
magnitude. The agricultural pro- 
ducts in 1820, were 32,000 lbs. of 
butter, 43,000 lbs. of cheese, 71,000 
lbs. of beef, 85,000 lbs. of pork, 
5,700 lbs. flax, and 600 bbls. of 
cider. This town was formerlj' 
called Limerick. It was incorpor- 
ated "Nov. 4, 1774, when it received 
the name of Stoddard from Col. 
Samson Stoddard of Chelmsford, to 
whom with several others it was 
granted. The settlement commenc- 
ed in June, 1769, by John Taggard, 
ReuTjen Walton, Alexander Scottv 
James Milchel, Richard Richard- 
son, Amos Butterfield, Joseph Dodge 
and Oliver Parker. The first fam- 
ily was that of John Taggard, whose 
privations and hardships were very 
great. Their grain was procured at 
Peterborough, at the distance of 20 
miles, which was conveyed by Mr, 
T. on his back through the pathless 
wilderness. At one time, they had 
nothing, for six days, on which to 
subsist, but the flesh of the moose. 
A congregational church of seven 
members was formed Sept. 4,1787. 
Rev. Abisha Colton, was ordained 
Oct. 16, 1793, and was dismissed 
Sept. 9, 1795 ; died in Vermont.Jan. 
12, 1823. Rev. Isaac Robinson 
was ordained Jan. 5, 1803. Pop. 
1203. 

Strafford, a post-township, in 
Strafford county, in lat. 43° 16', is 
boanded N. E. by Farmiogton, S. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



243 



E. by Barrington, S. W, by North- 
wood, W. by Pitistield, N. W. by 
Barnstead. It is 70 miles from Bos- 
ton, 15 from Dover, 25 from Con- 
cord, and is about 7 miles in length, 
6 1-2 wide. Bow pond is in the S. 
W. part of the town, and is about 
650 rods long, 400 wide ; its waters 
form one of the prmcipal branches 
of the Isinglass river. Trout pond 
lies W. of the Blue hills, and Wild 
goose pond between this town and 
Pittsfield. The range of Blue hills 
crosses the N. W. part of the town. 
The soil here is generally of a good 
quality. There are four free-will 
baptist churches in this town ; the 
1st, over which Elder William 
Sanders was ordained in May, 1822, 
contains 100 members ; the 2d, of 
about 100 members, has no settled 
minister, but is under the pastoral 
care of Elder Place of Rochester. 
Elder Micajah Otis was ordained 
over this church, Oct. 16, 1799 ; 
died May 30, 1821, aged 74. The 
3d church has 96, and the 4th, 37 
members. Strafford was formerly 
a part of Barrington, and was dis- 
annexed and incorporated June 17, 
1820. Pop. 2144. 

Stratford, post-town, in the 
county of Coos, on the E. bank of 
Connecticut river, in lat. 44° 41', is 
16 miles above Lancaster ; bound- 
ed N. by Columbia, E. by ungrant- 
ed lands, S. by Piercy and North- 
umberland, W. by Vermont. The 
town is large, extending 10 miles on 
the river, with a fertile interval of 
1-4 to 1 mile wide. This meadow 
is skirted in many places by a nar- 
row plain, succeeded by the moun- 
tainous regions, covering the whole 
E. and N. divisions of the town. 
The soil, except along the river, is 
rocky, gravelly and cold. The back 
lands are therefore not settled to 
any extent. The Peaks, two moun- 
tains of a conical form, situated in 



the S. E, part of the town, are seen 
at a great distance. They are 
apparently disconnected from the 
great range of Bowback mountains 
stretching over the N. and E. parts 
of the town. They are discovered 
immediately on entering Dalton, 30 
miles below, and stand as landmarks 
in front or to the right, till, on near- 
er approach, they are lost behind 
the intervening hills. Bog brook and 
several smaller streams here fall in- 
to the Connecticut ; and Nash's 
stream crosses the S. E. part of the 
town into the Amonoosuck. There 
is a pond in the S. E. part of the 
town, the waters of which pass in- 
to the Amonoosuck. Stratford was 
incorporated Nov. 16, 1779. The 
first settlers were Isaac Johnston, 
James Curtis, James Brown, Josiah 
Lampkins and Archippus Blodget. 
There is a meeting-house here, and 
congregationalists and methodists ; 
but no settled minister. Pop. 335. 
Stratham, a township, in the 
county of Rockingham, in lat. 43° 
1', 51 miles from Boston, 39 from 
Concord, 3 from Exeter, is situated 
on the E. side of the W. branch of 
the Pascataqua river; bounded N. 
E. by Greenland, E. by Greenland 
and North-Hampton, S. W. by Ex- 
eter, W. and N. W. by the river 
and bay, which separate it from 
Exeter and New-Market ; and has 
an area of 10,120 acres. Stratham 
is distant about 8 miles from the 
sea. The land is even, and well 
calculated for agricultural purposes. 
Farming is so exclusively the em- 
ployment of the people, that, al- 
though a navigable river adjeins it, 
there is little attention given to any 
other pursuit. In the E. part of the 
town, in a swamp, is perhaps the 
largest repository of peat in the 
state. This town was a part of the 
Squamscot patent, or Hilton's pur- 
chase. In 1697, there were 35 fam- 



244 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



iliesin the place, who petitioned for 
an act of incorporation. It was 
made a distinct town by charter, 
March 20, 1716. Tne first town 
meeting was on the 10th of April, 
1716 ; Deac. David Robinson was 
ciiosen town clerk, and held that 
office 47 years. A congregational 
church was formed here at an early 
date, and Rev. Henry Rust ordain- 
ed in 1718; he died in 1749, aged 
63. Rev. Joseph Adams was or- 
dained in 1756, and died 1785,aged 
66. Rev. James Miltemore, or- 
dained in 1786, was removed in 
1807. The church is now vacant. 
There was formerly a baptist socie- 
ty here, under the ministration of 
Rev. S. Shepard. There is a free- 
will baptist society, lately un- 
der the care of Eld. N. Piper. — 
From the year 1798 to 1312, inclu- 
sive, the number of deaths in this 
town was 186. The greatest num- 
ber in any one year was 20, and the 
smallest number 5, averaging about 
12 annually. Between the years 
1742 and 1797, inclusive, the num- 
ber of deaths was 1080, averaging 
about 20 annually. Phinehas 
Merrill, Esq. was a native of 
this town; was eminent as a sur- 
Teyor, assisted in preparing the ele- 
gant Map of N. H. published by 
Carrigain ; was several years a 
representative in our state legisla- 
ture, and died Dec. 31, 1814, aged 
47. Pop. 892. 

Success, an uninhabited town- 
ship, in Coos county, in lat. 44° 27', 
is bounded N. by Cambridge, E. by 
Maine, S. by Shelburne, W. by 
Shelburne, Maynesborough and 
Paulsburgh ; comprising an area of 
about 30,000 acres. Tiiere are sev- 
eral considerable mountains in this 
tract ; and two or three ponds.— 
Narmarcungawack and Livt^ rivers 
rise here, and pass westerly into 
tlie Ameriscoggin. Success was 



granted Feb. 12, 1773, to Benjamin 
Mackay and others; and is 143 
miles from Concord. 

Sugar river. See Claremont. 

SuLLivAJV, a township in Chesh- 
ire county, in lat. 43°, is bounded 
N. by Gilsum and Stoddard, E. by 
Stoddard and Nelson, S. by Rox- 
bury and Keene, W. by Keene and 
Gilsum, containing 12,212 acres. 
The distance from Keene is 6 miles, 
from Concord 42 miles. The S. 
E. part of this town is watered by 
Ashuelot river. The soil produces 
rye, corn, oats, &c. There are uo 
considerable ponds ; no elevations 
worthy of particular notice. This 
town was incorporated Sept. 27, 
1787, and received its name from 
President Stdlivan, the chief magis- 
trate of N. H. that year. There 
are two religious societies, congre- 
gational and baptist. Of the for- 
mer. Rev. TVilliam Muzzy, who 
graduated at Harvard college in 
1793, was ordained in 1798. Over 
the latter Rev. Charles Cummings 
was ord. Oct. 24, 1810. Pop. 600. 

SuNAPEE lake, is situated in the 
N. W. part of Hillsborough county 
and the N. E. part of Cheshire, in 
the towns of Wendell, New-Lon- 
don and Fishersfield. The centre 
of it is in lat. 43^22'. It is 9 
miles long and about 1 1-2 miles in 
width. Its outlet is on the W. side 
through Sugar river. In 1816, Lo- 
ammi Baldwin, Esq. and Professor 
John Farrar, were appointed a 
committee by the government ot 
Massachusetts, with whom was as- 
sociated Henry B. Chase, Esq. ap- 
pointed by the government of this 
state, to explore and survey a route 
for a navigable canal from the Con- 
necticut to the Merrimack. The 
contemplated line of communica- 
tion was from the mouth of Sugar 
river, which empties into the Con 
necticut, to the mouth of the Cor. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



245 



toocook river, which empties into 
the Merrimack. The survey com- 
prehended the shores of Sunapee 
lake, the elevation of the lake above 
the waters of the rivers, the highest 
of the falls in either of the rivers,and 
of the land adjoining,so that it might 
serve as the bat-is of a calculation 
of the expense of such water com- 
munication. By the report of this 
committee, it appears that the fall, 
each way from the lake to these 
rivers, exceeded 820 feet, which 
shews the impracticability of a 
project which, before the survey 
was made,was thought to be feasible 
SuNCOOK river rises in a pond 
between GiJmanton and Gilford 
near the summit of one of the Sun 
cook mountains, elevated 900 feet 
above iis base. The water from 
this pond passes through two others 
at the foot of the mountains, and 
thence through a flourishing village 
in the S. E. part of Gilmanton, in 
to Barnstead, where it receives sev 
era! tributaries ; thence through 
Pittsfield and Epsom, and between 
Allenstown an^ Pembroke, into the 
Merrimack. 

Surry, a snaall township in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 43° 1', is 
bounded N. by Alstead,E. by Gil 
sum, S. by Keene and W.by West 
moreland and Walpole, containing 
12,212 acres. It is 54 miles froii 
Concord. It is watered by Ashue 
lot river, on which tl\ere is a valua- 
ble tract of meadow land, extend- 
ing almost the whole length of the 
own. On the E. side of Asjiuelot 
river is a steep and high mountain, 
on the summit of which is a pond 
of about 3 acres in extent, and 
about 25 feet depth of water. View- 
ing its elevated height and situa- 
tion above the river, it may be es- 
teemed as a natural curiosity. The 
Cheshire turnpike from Charles- 
own to Keene, passes through the 



central part of Surry, and the 3d 
N. H. turnpike from Walpole to 
New-Ipswich passes through the 
S. W. part. Surry was originally 
part of Gilsum and W^estmoreland. 
It was incorporated by charter, 
March 9, 1769, deriving its name 
from Surry in England. The first 
settlement was made in 1764, by 
Peter Hayward. He commenced 
clearing land and laboring on his 
farm in the summer preceding, ma- 
king his home at the fort in Keene. 
He practiced going to his farm in 
the morning, and returning to the 
fort in the evening, guarded by his 
dog and gun, while many of the 
savages at that time were lurking 
in the woods. The congregational 
church was formed June 12, 1769, 
of 8 males and 7 females. Rev. 
David Darling, who graduated at 
Yale college in 1779, was ordained 
Jan. 18, 1781 ; dismissed Dec. 30, 
1783, Rev. Perky Hoive, who 
graduated at Dartmouth college in 
1790, was ordained Sept. 16, 1795. 
There are some persons professing 
to be of the Christ-ian and meth- 
odist orders, hut of such, there are 
no regular chuvches. Surry con- 
tains 80 families and 90 rateable 
polls. Hon. Lemuel Holmes, 
a judge of the court of common pleas 
and a counsellor in 1793, resided in 
this town. Pop. 570. 

Sutton, a post-town in Hills- 
borough county, in lat. 43° 19', is 
7 1-2 miles in length, and 5 in 
breadth, containing 24,300 acres. 
It is bounded N. by New-London, 
Eh by W^ilmot and Warner, S. by 
Warner and Bradford, and W. by 
Fishersfield. It is 17 miles from 
Hopkinton, 25 from Concord, 65 
from Portsmouth and 80 from Bos- 
ton. The southerly and largest 
branch of Warner river enters this 
town on the S., runs a short diS' 
tanc€, and passes of[ iato Warnet 



U6 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



again. The northerly branch of 
this river runs nearly through the 
centre of the town from N. to S. ; 
affords several good mill seats, and 
is adorned with many pleasant and 
valuable meadows on its borders. 
Stevens' brook, another consider- 
able branch of Warner river, has 
its source on the W. side of Kear- 
sarge and runs about 4 miles in this 
town in a S. E. direction. There 
is also a large branch of Blackwater 
river, which has its source about 
the western confines of Kearsarge, 
and flows through this town in a N. 
E> course about 3 miles. On the 
margin of this stream, there is some 
rich meadow and interval land. 
There are several ponds, the most 
important of which are Kezar's 
pond, situated towaids the N. part 
of the town, which is about 190 rods 
square ; and Long pond, situated at 
the south part of the town, 350 rods 
long and 70 wide. Kearsarge 
mountain extends more than half 
the length of Sutton on its E. side. 
Here this mountain has a grand 
and lofty appearance. From its 
firm and everlasting base, it raises 
its towering summit far above the 
clouds. In the morning, at the ris- 
ing of the sun, it throws its huge 
shadow over a vast extent of ter- 
ritory, comprising an immense num- 
ber of inferior mountains, hills, 
plains and valleys, and eclipses the 
sun to hundreds ai-d thousands of 
its western inhab'-tans. Hundreds 
of people visit this mountain annu- 
ally, and climb to its top, where 
they have, in a fair day, a pleasing 
and picturesque view in every 
direction. Kin:'s Hill is situated 
on the W. part of Sutton. On the 
most elevated part of this hill, which 
rises within a few feet as high as 
Kearsarge, there is one of the most 
extensive landscape views in the 



country. On the W. is seen the 
Sunapee lake, the Ascutney, and 
highlands in Vermont to the Green 
mountains ; on the S. the Sunapee 
and Monadnock •, on the E. you 
almost overlook Kearsarge ; and on 
the N. the Cardigan and White 
hills, with an innumerable host of 
mountains, hills and peaks, present 
themselves to view, of all shapes 
and sizes. On this hill and in the 
meadows at its foot, is found clay 
of a superior quality, in great quan- 
tities. Here are also found quar- 
ries of stone, remarkable for their 
dimensions, and valuable for their 
quality. These stones are found in 
extensive strata, of almost any 
thickness, length or width wished 
for. They are split and prepared 
for buildings at very little expense 
j or labor, as nature seems almost to 
j have given many of them the fin- 
ishing stroke. A mineral is found 
jin this town resembling black lead, 
jit is frequently used for paint, on 
roofs and doors of buildings, and 
produces a handsome and duiable 
slate color. The soil in this town 
presents all the varieties of produc- 
tiveness and sterility ; and though 
the surface is diversified with a 
succession of hills and vales, and 
is often rough and mountainous, 
it, in many places, produces fine 
crops of wheat, rye, oats, Indian 
corn, and most of the other prod- 
ucts common to New-England. 
The original forest growth of this 
town, consisted of the white, yel- 
low, Norway and pitch pine, white 
and red cedar, hemlock, spruce, 
juniper, fir, poplar, bass, sugar ma- 
I pie, white maple, white, red and 
black birch, beech, white and 
! brown ash, white, red and yellow 
joak, elm, oil nut, or butternut, 
land some others. The principal 
I road through this town is from Hop- 



x\EW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



247 



kinton to Dartmouth College, to 
which place it is 33 miles. Sutton 
was granted by the Masonian pro- 
prietors, in 1749, to inhabitants of 
Haverhill, Newbury and Bradford, 
Mass. and Kingston, N. H. It was 
called Perrys-town, from Obadiah 
Perry, one of its original and prin- 
cipal proprietors. The first settle- 
ment was made in 1767, by David 
Peaslee, who was soon followed by 
a considerable number of other set- 
tlers. "To the early inhabitants, 
it was not unfrequent to see the 
harmless moose approach their 
humble cottages ; and the inoffen- 
sive deer was frequently seen feed- 
ing on their little improvements. 
The beaver,the otter, and the musk- 
rat sported up and down ths rivers 
and brooks almost unmolested ; 
while the midnight bowlings of the 
bear and wolf announced to them, 
their intended depredations on 
tiieir fields, flocks and herds. Al- 
though the Indian was not seen, yet 
it seemed that he had just put out 
his fire and gone. His track was 
atill plain and visible." On the W. 
bank of Kezav's pond, were several 
acres of land, which appeared to 
have been cleared of their origin- 
al forest. Here were found several 
liulian hearths, laid with stone, and 
with much skill and ingenuity. 
Here was found an Indian burial 
place. Gun barrels and arrows 
have been found in this sacred re- 
pository. Near the pond, have 
been found stone pestles, mortars 
and tomahawks. A baptist church 
was formed in April, 1782, and in 
Oct. of the same year. Rev. Sam- 
uel Ambrose was ordained. He 
was dismissed in March, 1795. Rev. 
JVatJian Ames succeeded in May, 
18:11. Number of communicants. 
110. There is a free-will baptist 
society, over which Elder Elijah 
Watson was settled in 1818. There 



is a society of universalists. With- 
in 10 years past, 5 persons have 
died more than 100 years of age, 1 
at the age of 99, and 3 from 90 to 
99. Jacob Davis died in April, 
1819, aged 105; and in the week 
following, his wife, aged 99, with 
whom he had lived more than 70 
years. After he was 100 years of 
age, he attended the polls, and vo- 
ted. Thomas Walker, a native of 
Wales, who died in March, 1822, 
at the age of 103, was a soldier of 
the revolution, and took part in 
several important battles, such as 
Saratoga, White plains, Brandy- 
wine, &c. Pop. 1573, 

SwANZEY, a post-township in 
Cheshire county, in lat. 42° 51', is 
bounded N. by Kcene, E. by Marl- 
borough and Troy, S. by Richmond, 
W. by Winchester and Chester- 
field, containing 28,057 acres. It is 
6 miles from Keene, 60 S. W. from 
Concord, and 78 from Boston. The 
principal streams are the Ashuelot 
and the S. Branch rivers. The 
former passes through Swanzey in 
a S. W. direction, and empties into 
the Connecticut at Hinsdale. This 
is a stream of much importance, 
and is made navigable for boats as 
far up as Keene, excepting a car- 
rying place about the rapids at 
Winchester. The South Branch 
unites with the Ashuelot about one 
mile N. from the centre of the 
town. The surfaciC here is some- 
what diversified with hills, valleys, 
and swells of upland. Nearly one 
third part is almost perfectly level, 
consisting of nearly equal propor- 
tions of plain and interval. The 
level grounds are free from stone. 
The divisions of soil are interval, 
plain and upland. The principal 
production of the former is grass, 
which grows luxuriantly. The 
plains are easily cultivated, and 
produce rye, corn, &;c. The irp- 



248 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



lands possess a deep and strong 
soil, and are divided into con- 
venient proportions of arable, mow- 
ing, grazing, orchard, and wood 
land. Tiie original growth com- 
prises, with a few exceptions, the 
whole variety of perennial and de- 
ciduous forest trees. The pine af- 
fords sufficient lumber for local use, 
and a considerable quantity for ex- 
portation. From the maple, large 
quantities of sugar have been made. 
There is one pond in the S. W. part 
of the town, 1 mile in length and 
:3-4 of a mile wide. It is the source 
of the S. Branch, There is a min- 
eral spring, the water of which is 
impregnated with sulphate of iron. 
Some iron ore has been discovered. 
There are about 30 houses on the 
street, which is level, and extends 
ISl. and S. 2 1 2 miles. Few towns, 
so large, are les? compact. There 
are 2 houses for public worship. 
There Is a social library of 200 
w^ell selected volumes, incorporated 
•Tune 10, 1802. There are 2 cotton 
factories, 1 cotton and woollen fac- 
tory, 3 carding machines, &c. — 
Swanzey was first granted by Mas- 
sachusetts, in 1733, to 64 proprie- 
tors, whose first meeting was at Con- 
cord, Mass. June 27, 1734. After 
the divisional line was run, it was 
granted July 2, 1753, by N. H., to 
62 proprietors. Until that time it 
had been called Lower Ashuelot, 
from the Indian name of the river, 
which was originally Ashaelock. 
From 1741 to 1747, this town suf 
fered much from Indian depreda- 
tions. Several of the inhabitants 
were killed and many were made 
prisoners. Massachusetts, under 
whose jurisdiction this town had re 
vnnined for 13 years, withdrew her 
protection, and left the inhabitants 
defenceless, and exposed to the fu- 
ry of the savages. It was there 
fere thought advisable to abandon 



the place. The settlers collected 
together their household furniture, 
such as chests, tables, iron and 
brass ware, and concealed it in the 
ground, covering the place of con- 
cealment with leaves, trees, &c., 
and left their plantation to the dis- 
position of the Indians, who were 
not tardy in setting fire to their 
forts, which, with every house ex- 
cept one, they reduced to ashes.. 
Most of the people went to their 
former places of residence in Mass. 
They returned about three years af- 
terwards, and nothing about their 
former habitations was to be seen, 
but ruin and desolation. The con- 
gregational church was first gather- 
ed in 1741, and Rev. Timothy Har- 
rington, a native of Waltham, Ms. 
was settled as pastor. He left the 
place in consequence of the war in 
1747 ; was settled at Lancaster,Ms. 
in 1748; died Dec. 18. 1795, aged 
80. He was a truly venerable and 
worthy divine. Rev, Ezra Qarpen^ 
ter was settled over this town and 
Keene, Oct. 4, 1753: dismissed soon 
af*3r. Rev. Edward Goddard was 
ordained Sept. 27,1769; dismissed 
July 5. 1798. Rev. Clark Brown 
settled Sept. 5, 1810; dismissed 
Aug. 16, 1815. Rev. Joshua Chan.' 
dler was ordained Jan. 1819. The 
baptist church here was founded a^ 
bout the year 1804, The number 
of deaths from Jan. 1810, to June 
3, 1822, was 231. Pop. 1716. 

Swift River rises among the 
mountains in the ungranted lands N. 
W. of Burton, and passes through 
the town from W. to E. with great 
rapidity, and falls into the Saco in 
Conway. Its whole course is rapid, 
and in one place it falls about 30 
feet in the distance of 6 rods, 
through a channel in the solid rock 
of about 12 feet wide— the sid&s 
being from 10 to 30 feet perpendic- 
ular height. At the uppe4- part of 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



S49 



these falls, are found several circu- 
lar holes worn perpendiculaily into 
the rock, several feet in depth and 
ftom 6 inches to 2 feet diameter. 
There is another small river in 
Tarnworth of the same name. 

T. 

TAMWorth, a post-township, 
Strafford county, in lat. 43° 51', is 
situated on the post-road from Con- 
cord to Portland, and about &8 
miles from -each; 30 miles from 
Gilford, and 120 from Boston. It is 
bounded N.by Burton, E. by Eaton, 
S. by Ossipee, W. by Sandwich, 
and contains 28,917 acres. There 
is no mountain situated wholly 
in this town. On the N. are the 
mountains of Burton, and the S, 
the line crosses a part of Ossipee 
mountain. The mountains to th( 
N. have a romantic and picturesque 
appearance. The town lies in 
ridges and valleys, generally rocky 
and fertile. The principal rivers 
are Bearcamp,which passes through 
the town in an easterly direction, 
and discharges its waters into Ossi 
pee lake ; Swift river, which rises 
near the N. W. corner of the town 
and passing through its centre, 
mingles its waters with the Bear 
camp ; and Corway river, proceed 
ing from Corway pond, near Bur 
ton ; and crossing tne S. line of 
Tarnworth, near the S. E, corner of 
the town, near which it empties 
into Bearcamp river. By these riv- 
ers, and other small streams, the 
town is uncom nonly well watered. 
On these streams is a great num- 
ber of excellent mill privileges. 
Tarnworth was granted Oct. 14, 
I76fi, to John Webster, Jonathan 
Moulton and others ; and was set- 
tled in 1771, by Richard Jackman, 
Jonathan Choate, David Pi-ilbvick 
and William Eastir.an. The con- 
gregational church, in this town, 
X2 



consists of about 200 members, un- 
der the pastoral care of the Rev. 
Samuel Hidden, who was ordained 
Sept. 12, 1792. Here is also a 
large society and church of free- 
will baptists. Pop. 1442. 

Temple, post town, in Hillsbo- 
rough county, in lat. 42° 49', is 
bounded N. by Greenfield and 
Lyndeborough, E. by Lyndebo- 
rough and Wilton, S. by New-Ips- 
wich and Mason, and W. by Shar- 
on and Peterborough. It is 6 miles 
in length ; its medial bieadth is 
3 1-2 miles. Temple is 12 mile? 
from Amherst and 40 from Concord. 
The several streams which emptj 
into Souhegan river at Wilton, rise 
among the mountainous tracts on 
the W., and generally from sour- 
ces within the limits of Temple. — 
This town is of considerable eleva- 
tion. The prospect towards the 
E. and S. is very extensive, and 
presents a rich and diversified 
scenery. From the highest point 
of elevation, in a clear atmosphere, 
about 20 meeting houses may be 
seen by the naked eye. The sur- 
face is very rocky and uneven. The 
soil is tolerably good, and every 
part of it may be improved to advaii- 
tage, either for tillage, mowing,pas- 
turage, or woodland. This place is 
free from early, frosts. For the last 
35 years, there has been no general 
mortal sickness. In 1813, there oc- 
curred 137 cases of fever, of which 
only 7 died. The deaths for 15 
years past, have annually averaged 
about 14. The congregational 
church was organized Oct. 2, 1771, 
at wliich time, Rev. Samuel Web- 
ster, from Salisbury, Mass., was or- 
dained. He died in 1778, aged 35. 
Rev. JVba/t Miles, his successor, 
was ordained in 1782 There is a 
library in this town called the "Co- 
lumbian Lil>rary," incorporated in 
1797, having 237 volumes. Temple 



250 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



is the easterly part of what was] 
called Peterborough Slip. It was 
incorporated Aug. 26,1768. Hon. 
Francis Bi>ood, a representative 
to the general court, a senator, 
counsellor, judge of the court of 
common pleas, and brigadier gener- 
al, resided in this town. Pop. 752. 

Teneriffe. See Milton. 

Thornton, a post township in 
Grafton county, in lat. 43° 54', is 
bounded N. by Peeling and Lin- 
coln, E. by ungranted land and 
Giliis' and Foss' grant, S. by Camp- 
ton, W. by Ellsworth and Peeling, 
containing 28,490 acres, including 
Thornton Gore. It is 12 miles from 
Plymouth, 58 from Concord, and 
120 from IJoston. It is watered by 
Pemigewasset river,passing through 
the town from N. to S., by Mad riv- 
er at the S. E. extremity, and by 
several small brooks. On Mill 
brook, there is a cascade, of which 
the water falls 7 feet in 2 rods, and 
then falls over a rock 42 feet per- 
pendicular. The soil is suitable 
for wheat, rye, oats, flax, &c. The 
intervals on the Pemigewasset 
are very productive. There are 
many elevations, but none distin- 
guished for a remarkable height. 
Maple sugar is made in considera- 
ble quantities, frequently from 500 
to 1000 lbs. by one family. Thorn- 
toQ was granted July 6, 1763, to 
Matthew, James, and Andrew 
Thovftton and others. It was first 
settled in 1770, by Benjamin Hoit, 
whose son Benjamin was the first 
child born in town. Thornton was 
incorporated Nov. 8, 1781. A con- 
gregational church was formed, and 
Rev. Experience Esterbrooks was 
ordained Aug. 10, 1780 ; afterward 
dismissed. Rev. Noah Worcester, 
now D. D., of Brighton, Ms., was or 
dained in 1787; dismissed in 1810 
There are 2 meeting houses, one of 
which is used as a town house 



There are several religious denom- 
inations in this place. Number of 
deaths from 1810 to 1822, 75. Pop. 
857. 
Trot, a small township in Chesh- 
re county, in lat. 42° 50', is boun- 
ded N. by Marlborough, E. by Jaf- 
frey, S. by Fitzwilliam, and W. by 
Richmond and Swawzey. It is 
about 60 miles from Concord. 
The soil and productions of this 
town are similar to those of Fitz- 
william. Possessing but few water 
privileges, its advantages for mills 
and factories are limited. The in- 
habitants are principally agricultu- 
ralists. This town was taken from 
Marlborough and Fitzv/illiam, and 
incorporated June 23, 1815. A 
congregational church was organ- 
ized Sept. 14, 1815. Rev. Ezekiel 
Rich was installed at the time the 
church was formed. He was dis- 
missed July 18, 1818. Rev. Setk 
E. PVinslow has since been em- 
ployed. The church has about 30 
communicants. Pop. 700. 

TUFTOSBOROUGH, pOSt tOWB, 

Strafford county, in lat. 43° 40', is 
about 50 miles from Concord, situ- 
ated on the N. E. shore of Winne- 
pisiogee lake ; bounded N. E. by 
Ossipee, S. E. by Wolfe borough, 
S. W. and W. by the lake, N. W. 
by Moultonborough. There are 
several ponds in this town, togeth- 
er with many small streams running 
into the lake. The soil is alter- 
nately good and indifferent; the 
surface, an interchange of rough 
and pleasant grounds. There are 
several arms of the lake stretching 
far into the town, and presenting 
to the spectator, from the elevated 
parts of the town, a succession of 
beautiful views. Tuftonborough 
was originally granted to J. Tufton 
Mason, and took its name from hitn. 
It was settled about 1780, and in- 
corporated Dec. 17, 1795. Among 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



251 



the early settlers were Benjamin 
Bean, Phinehas Graves and Joseph 
Peavey. There are societies of 
congregationalists, baptists and 
methodists ; of the latter, Rev. Jo- 
seph Kellum is pastor. They have 
a meeting house; and there is also 
a commodious town house. This 
has generally been a healthy town. 
The spotted fever prevailed in 1816, 
and numbers fell its victims. Pop. 
1232. 

u. 

UmbAoog lake, is a large 6ody of 
water, situated mostly in the state 
of Maine, and extending about 300 
rods in width along the E. of the 
townships of Errol and Cambridge, 
in N. H. This lake is very imper- 
fectly known ; is said to be about 
18 miles long, and in some parts 10 
wide ; being but little inferior to 
Winnepisiogee, in extent and beau- 
ty. Its outlet is on the W. side, in 
Errol, its waters flowing into the 
Ameriscoggin. 

Unconoonock, a mountain. — 
See Goffstown. 

Unity, post-township, in Chesh- 
ire county, inlat. 42° 51', is bound- 
ed N. by Claremont and Newport, 
E. by Goshen. S. by Lempster 
and Acworth, and W. by Charles- 
town, containing 24,447 acres. It 
is 43 miles from Concord, 88 from 
Portsmouth and 90 from Boston. — 
The 2d N. H. turnpike and the 
post road from Goshen to Charles- 
town pass through this town. Lit- 
tle Sugar river has its source in 
Whortleberry pond and Beaver 
meadow, in the N, part of the 
town, passes through its centre, and 
empties itself into the Connecticut 
at Charlestown. Cold pond, tlie 
head of Cold river, is partly in thi 
town. From Gilman's pond, in 
the E. part of Unity, proceeds 
branch of Sugar river, flowing 



through Nev/port. Perry's moun- 
tain is in the S. W. part, and part- 
ly in Charlestown. Unity is an 
uneven township, and abounds in 
rocks. They are principally the 
common granite ; some are oriental 
granite. The soil is highly favora- 
ble for grazing. It is excellent for 
flax, few towns in the state produ- 
cing a greater quantity. From 5 
pecks of seed sowed in 1821, were 
raised, without any extraordiharj' 
cultivation, 25 bushels of flax seed, 
of the best quality, and 7001bs. of 
good flax. The agricultural pro- 
ducts in 18-20, were 21,0001bs. of 
butter, 30,0001bs. of cheese, 72,- 
OOOlbs. of beef, 85,0001bs. of pork, 
5,7001bs. of flax, 600 barrels of ci- 
der. Unity was granted by char- 
ter, July 13, 1764, to Theodore At- 
kinson, Meshech Weare, and 45 
others. It was called Unity, from 
the happy termination of a dispute 
which had long subsisted between 
certain of the inhabitants of King- 
ston and Hampstead, claiming the 
same tract of land under two differ- 
ent grants. The first settlement 
was made by John Ladd and Mo- 
ses Thurston, in 1769. Joseph 
Perkins the only native graduate, 
proceeded A. B., at Williams' col- 
lege, in 1814. There are metlio- 
odist, baptist and friend societies, 
each of which have meeting hou- 
ses. Charles Huntoon, Esq., one 
of the first settlers, died here in 
1818, aged 93. Pop. 1280. 

Upper Coos, a name formerly 
applied to the tract on the Connec- 
ticut, now comprising the towns of 
Lancaster and Northumberland, and 
the towns opposite, in the state of 
Vermont. 

w. 

Wakefield, a post-township, 
'itraffoid county, in lat. 43° 35', is 
100 miles from Boston, 50 from 



252 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Concord, 30 from Dover ; bound- 
ed N. W. by Ossipee and Effing- 
ham, E. by Maine,S. E. by Milton, 
W. by Middleton and Brookfield. 
Lovewell's pond, in the S. part of 
the town, is about 700 rods long, 
275 wide. Province pond lies be- 
tween Wakefield and Effingham, 
and is 450 rods long, 400 wide. 
Pine river pond is the source of 
the river of that name flowing N. 
W. into Ossipee lake. The prin- 
cipal branch of the Pascataqua has 
its rise in East pond, between 
Wakefield and Newfield, Me. The 
soil of this place is generally good, 
but it is more favorable for mow- 
ing and grazing than for tillage. 
This town was formerly called 
East-totcn, and xvas incorporated 
Aug. 30, 1774, by its present name. 
A congregational church was for- 
med in 1785, and Rev. Asa Piper 
ordained. He was dismissed in 
1810 ; but has since preached with- 
out compensation. There are also 
societies of methodists and freewill 
baptists. There are 2 cotton fac- 
tories, besides other mills and ma- 
chinery. Lovewell's pond in this 
town derived its name from Capt 
John Lovewell, of Dunstable, who, 
on the 20th Feb. 1725, surprised 
and destroyed a party of Indians 
encamped on the side of the pond. 
(See Hist. Coll. p. 26.) Robert 
Macklin, distinguished for longevi 
ty, died here in 1787, at the age of 
115. He was born in Scotland, 
and lived several years in Ports- 
mouth in the occupation of a ba- 
ker. He frequently walked from 
Portsmouth to Boston in one ('ay, 
and returned in another. This 
journey he performed the last time, 
at the age of 80. Pop. 1518. 

Wales' Locatiojv, in the co. 
of Coos, was granted May 4, 1773. 
to Nathaniel Wales, and comprise(! 
5822 acres — now constituting a 
part of Columbia, 



Walpole, a post-town in the 
county of Cheshire, in lat. 43° 4^, 
is bounded N. by Charlestown and 
Langdon, E. by Alstead and Suny, 
S. by Westmoreland and West- 

inster, Vt. containing 24,301 
acres. It is 25 miles from the S. 
ne of the state, 48 from Dart- 
mouth college, 60 from Concord, 
and 90 from Boston, with which it 
has easy and frequent communica- 
tion. The face of the town is 
beautifully diversified with hills 
and vales. The soil is similar to 
that of other towns on Connecticut 
river. The intervals afford excel- 
lent tillage ; the uplands are infe- 
rior to none in the state. The ag- 
ricultural products in 1820, were 
40,000 lbs. of butter, 60,000 lbs. of 
cheese,! 10,000 lbs. feeef,180,000 lbs. 
of pork, 5,500 lbs. of flax, with 1225 
barrels of cider. Cold river passes 
through the N. part, and forms a 
junction with the Connecticut. 
There is a lofty hill, called Fall 
mountain, a part of the range of 
Mount Toby ; the highest parts of 
which are not less than 700 or 800 
feet above the surface of the river. 
The village of Walpole is situated 
at the foot of this hill on a plain ; 
the margin of the intervals. The 
principal street runs N. andS. and 
is bordered on both sides with hou- 
ses, stores and shops, A turnpike 
road from Boston passes through 
this village, and by a bridge cros- 
sing the well known cataract, Bel- 
lows' Falls, passes over the Green 
mountains to Rutland, and from 
tlience through Middlebury and 
Burlington, by lake Champlain, to 
Montreal. The transportation and 
travelling in this channel of com- 
munication between Boston and 
the country on the N. W. are very 
great. There are 2 toll bridges 
across the Connecticut, one below 
the mouth of Cold river ; the other 
at Bellows' Falls, which aifords to 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



253 



the traveller, as he passes, a view 
most sublime and interesting. The 
Cheshire turnpike and the 3d N. 
H. turnpike pass through this lovcn. 
There is a large and commodious 
meeting-house, built in 1787, and 
furnished with a good bell and or- 
gan. The first minister of Wal- 

pole was Rev. Leavitt, 

who was settled over the congrega- 
tional church in 1761 ; and was 
dismissed in 1763. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Thomas Fessen- 
den, a graduate at Harvard college 
m 1758, who was ordained in Jan. 
1767 ; died May 9, 1813, aged 74. 
Rev. Pliny Dickinson, who gradu- 
ated at Dartmouth college in 1798, 
was ordained as colleague with Mr. 
Fessenden, March 6, 1805. Wal- 
pole was granted by the govern- 
ment of N. H., Feb. 16, 1752, to 
Col. Benjamin Bellows and 61 oth- 
ers. It v/as previously known by 
the name of Great Fall. Its first 
settlement was made in 1749, by 
Col. Bellows, who, for a long time 
was exposed, without any other 
defence than a small fort, with a 
trifling garrison, to the incursions of 
the Canadians and savages. In 
time of war he was encircled by 
hazard and peril. In 1755, a party 
of Indians, from St. Francis invad- 
ed Walpole ; killed two men ; 
and took possession of the fort. 
Col. Bellows was abroad. On his 
return with 20 men, he met 50 of 
the savages ; fouginhis way through. 
them, and recovered the fort with- 
out losing a man. The descend 
ants of Col. Bellows are numerous 
and highly respectable. Pop. 2000. 
Warner, a post-township in 
Hillsborough county, in lat. 43° 
16-', is bounded N. by Sutton and 
Salisbury, E. by BoscaAven, S. by 
Hopkinton and Hermikcr, W. by 
Bradford, containing according to 
Ibe survey of 1805, 27,571 acres, 



besides Kearsarge gore, which was 
annexed to this town, in June 1818. 
This gore is a strip of land lying 
between Salisbury and Sutton, ex- 
tending from the former N. line of 
Warner to the highest part of 
Kearsarge mountain, and contains 
4280 acres. The distance of War- 
ner from Hopkinton is 8 miles; 
from Concord, 15 ; and from Bos- 
ton, 72 miles. It is watered by 
Warner river, a handsome stream, 
which rises in the Sunapee moun- 
tain in Fishersfield. It passes 
through Bradford, enters Warner 
at the N. W. corner, and runnii>g 
in an E. and S. E. direction, di- 
vides the town into nearly two 
equal parts. It passes out at the 
S. E. corner, and falls into Contoo- 
cook river in Hopkinton. On this 
river and its tributary streams in 
this town, are 16 saw mills, 8 grist 
mills, 1 paper mill, &c. Most of 
the perennial and deciduous trees 
common to this section of the 
country, are found here. This 
lands, though broken, have, in gen- 
eral a good soil, and produce grass, 
corn, rye, &c. Mink hills lie in 
the W. part, and furnish fine or- 
chards, and good pasturage. There 
are 4 ponds, viz. Ton), Bear, Bag- 
ley and Pleasant ponds. Pleasant 
pond, the waters of which are clear 
and cold ; deep, and of a greenish 
cast, has no visible outlet or inlet, 
and overflows its banks in the driest 
seasons. There are 16 school dis- 
tricts, which average 40 scholars to 
each. One native of tbe town, 
John Kelly, Esq., counsellor at law 
in Northwood, graduated at Dart- 
mouth college in 1804. Another 
is a member of the senior class at 
the same institution. This town 
was granted in 1735 hy the general 
court of Mass. to Beac. Thomas 
Stevens and 62 othtis, inhabitants 
of Amesbury and Salisbury, Ms. 



^54 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



It was first called dumber 1, and 
afterwards JVew-Amesbury. In 
1737,63 five acre house lots were 
laid out by the proprietors ; a small 
log hut was built on each; and in 
1739, a saw mill was erected where 
Gen. A. Davis' m'lls now stand. 
Soon after the divisional line be- 
tween N. H. and Mass. was estab- 
lished, this town was re-granted by 
the Masonian proprietors to 63 per- 
sons belonging to Rye, between 
whom and the first grantees arose 
controversies and lawsuits, which 
were not finally settled till 1773. 
The name under the last grant was 
Jennis-town. It was incorporated 
Sept. 3, 1774, by the name of War- 
ner, contrary to the petition of the 
proprietors, who desired the name 
to be Araesbury. The first settle- 
ment was made in 1762, by David 
Annis and his son-in-law, Reuben 
Kimball, whose son Daniel was the 
first child born in town. Mrs. 
Hannah Kimball, the widow of Mr. 
Kimball, died at Warner, Feb. 23, 
1823, aged 83,— the first English 
female who slept in the town. In 
1774, Warner contained 50 fami- 
lies. On the 5th of Feb. 1772, a 
congregational church was organi 
zed. Rev. William Kelly, a na- 
tive of Newbury, Ms., was the first 
minister. He was born Oct. 31, 
1744', graduated at Harvard co% 
letje in 1767 ; ordained Feb. 5, 
1772; dismissed March 11, 1801 ; 
awd died May 18, 1813. His suc- 
cessor, Rev. John Woods, was or- 
dained June 22, 1814. There are 
baptists, freewill baptists and uni- 
versalists. On the 9th of Sept. 1821, 
this town was visited by a most 
violent and destructive hurricsue. 
by which five individuals los* their 
lives, several were seriously injur- 
ed, and considerable property was 
destroyed. (See Cahinet of Curi- 
osities^ VqI. 1, p. 64.) The num- 



ber of deaths from Jan. 1817 to 
Jan. 1, 1833, was 179. The num- 
ber which died of consumption was 
43. Pop. 2246. 

Warder's Location, was an- 
nexed to Chatham June 23, 1817. 

Warner river. See Warner. 

Warren, township in Grafton 
county, in lat. 43° 36', is bounded 
N. by Coventy, E. by Peeling and 
Ellsworth, S. by Wentvvorth, W. by 
Piermont, containing 27,720 acres. 
It is 10 miles from Haverhill corner, 
and 63 from Concord. This town 
is watered by the north branch of 
Baker's river, which has its source 
on the E. side of Moosehillock 
mountain. It passes in a north di- 
rection to Wentworth, and, near 
the S. line of Warren, furnishes 
several valuable mill seats. Here 
are situated Clement's mills. The 
soil of Warren varies not material- 
ly from the contiguous towns. The 
S. E. part presents a mountainous 
aspect, having a large portion of 
Carr's mountain on its S. eastern, 
border. There is considerable trav- 
el through the S. W. part of this 
town, over which the Coos turnp'ke 
passes. Warren was granted hy 
charter, July 14, 1763. Of its his- 
tory or religion we know nothing, 
and could obtain nothing. Pop. 
544. 

Washington, a post-township 
in Cheshire county, in lat. 43*^ 10', 
is bounded N. by Goshen, E. by 
Bradford, Hillsborough and Wind- 
sor, S. by Stoddard, and W. by Mar- 
low and Lemp^ier, containing 
30,765 acres. It ^s 22 miles from 
Keene, 20 fr >;n Cbarlestown, 35 
from Concorr' and 80 from Boston.. 
This town is hilly, but not moun- 
tainou?. Lovewcll's mountain, so 
callcu from Capt. liOvewell's killing 
sr-ven Indians nenr it, (See Hist. 
Coll. for 1822, page 25,) is of a con- 
ical shape, about 3-4 of a mile in 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



26& 



diameter, and may be seen at a con- 1 
siderable distance. Washington 
abounds with springs, rivulets, and j 
natural pcjnds, of the last of which, j 
there are no less than 16, and some] 
of them of considerable magnitude 
Island pond, so called from its be 



proprietors to Reuben Kidder,-Esq. 
of New-Ipswich, under whom it 
was settled in 1768. It was first 
called Monadnocky JVb. 8. From 
its settlement, it was called Cam- 
den, till Dec. 13, 1776, when it was 
incorporated by its present name. 



ing full of islands, is 2 miles long, 1 The first settlers had 150 acres of 
and 1 1-2 wide. Half moon pond!!land each for settling. The first 
is 1 1-2 miles in length. Ashuelot j|year of their settlement, they erect- 
pond is 1 1-2 miles long, and 1 mile ied a grain mill and a sawmill, 
wide, and is the source of one ofnThe grants o* Marlow and Lemp- 



the principal branches of Ashuelot 
river. Brockway's pond, a beauti- 
ful sheet of water, lying on a white 
sand, is 1 mile long and 1-2 a mile 
wide. Long pond, lying in this town 
and Stoddard, is 5 miles in length. 
These ponds abound with a variety 
of fish. A branch of Contoocock 
river has its source from several 
small ponds in the E. part of the 
town. The soil is generally deep 
and moist. It is better for grass 
than tillage. The forest trees are 
rock and white maple, black ash, 
black, yellow and white birch, 
beech, elm, bass, red oak, pine, 
spruce, hemlock, fir, cedar, &(.•.. 
There is a plenty of clay ; and peat 
abounds in the swamps and low 
lands. Iron ore has been found in 
several places. Plumbago, (graph- 
ite) and antimony, it is said, have 
been found. Washington village 
is pleasantly situated, and contains 
a large meeting-house, with a hand- 
some cupola ; a brick school house, 
25 dwelling houses, 3 stores aud 2 
tavv.rns. The 2d N. H. turnpike 
runs from N. W. to S. E. through 
this village, where it is intersected 
by the Croydon turnpike from 
the N. There are several falls 
on the various streams, affording 
fine water privileges. Besides the 
miUs &c. under the statistical table, 
there is one cotton factory ; also, an 
oil mill and a distillery. W^a<ftli.ing- 
Tx>vi was granted by the Masonian 



ster mterfered with the grant of 
Monadnock, No. 8, and caused 
some long and vexatious lawsuits, 
jand much trouble ano expense to 
the claimants on both sides. There 
are 3 religious societies ; viz. (1,) 
the congregational, of wlric; a 
church vv.as organized May It, 17feO. 
Rev, George Lesslie was ii.f.ia)itd 
July 12, 1780 ; died Sept. 11, 1800, 
aged 72. Rev. John Lord, ordain- 
ed Nov. 9, 1803; dismissed June 
12, 1806 Rev. Broughton White, 
installed Dec. 23. 1818. (2.) J he 
baptists, who have no minister. (3.) 
The universalist society ,over which 
Rev. Ebenezer Paine was foniicrly 
settled. Washington is a healthy 
place. No remarkable sickness 
has ever prevailed here. The 
deaths in 1819, were 13; in 1820, 
14; in 1821, 8. Pop. 1000. 

Weare, a post town, and the 
largest township in Hillsborough 
county, both in extent and popula- 
tion, is situated in lat. 43° 4'. Its 
jlcngth is about 7 1-2 miles; its 
j breadth, which does not vary, ex- 
jceptatthe S. W. angle, is 6 1-2 
jniiles. It is bounded N. by Hen- 
jnikcrand Hopkintcn, E. by Dun- 
j barton and Goffstown, S. by New- 
iBoston, and W. by Francestown 
jand Deering, containing .33,643 
acres. The only river in Weare, 
is the N. W. branch of Piscata- 
quog,which enters the W. boundary 
from Deering,and meanders through 



256 



NEW-HAMPSFIIRE GAZETTEER. 



the N. and E. sections of the town, 
and passes the S. line about halt 
mile from tlie S. E. corner. This 
river afibrds the best mill seats ii 
town. On this, and the several 
other streams, are 1 cotton and 
woollen factory, 1 oil mill, 11 
saw mills, 9 grist mills, 3 fulling 
mills, and 3 carding machines. — 
There are three ponds of note in 
this town. The largest lies nearly 
one mile S. of the town house. It is 
known by the name of Mount-Wil- 
liara pond, and contains 40 acres 
Ferrin's pond, which is nearly as 
large, is situated in the S. E. pan 
of the town. Duck pond, about 
half a mile N. of the town house, 
is less than either of the others. — 
Two of the largest hills in Weare 
are called mountains. Mount Wil- 
liam lies N. E. of the pond of that 
name, and mount Misery is E. of 
Ferrin's pond. Neither of them 
are of very considerable mag- 
nitude, considered as mountains.— 
Rattlesnake hill, nearly in the cen- 
tre of the N. line of the town, 
abounds with shelving rocks, ab- 
rupt precipices, forming dens and 
caves. During the summer season, 
the reptile from which the hill takes 
h name is frequently found. The 
soil of this town exhibits different 
degrees of fertility. That of the 
uplands is favorable for agriculture ; 
is well supplied with springs of wa- 
ter, brooks and rivulets. The town, 
though rather broken, is not moun- 
tainous. It has small swamps, and 
some good meadows. Tt is now 
settled and cultivated to its ex- 
treme limits by industrious and 
wealthy husbandmen. There are 
two libraries. " The Social Libra- 
ry," incorporated Dec. 7, 1798, 
containing 90 volumes ; and the 
*' Friends Library," established 3d 
mo. 30th day, 1809, and containing 
68 volumes. Two natives of the 



town have received a collegiate ed- 
ucation, viz. James Hadley, who 
graduated at Dartmouth college in 
1809, and David Bailey, Esq., who 
graduated at Middlebury college, 
in 1814. There are 4 meeting hou- 
ses, two belonging to the society of 
friends. The baptist meeting house, 
erected in 1789, is in the S. part ; 
and the congregational meeting 
house, built in 1790, is in the N. E. 
part of the town. There is a town 
house near the centre. Weare was 
granted to Ichabod Robie, Esq. and 
others, Sept. 20, 1749, by the Ma- 
sonian proprietors. It was settled 
by emigrants from Massachusetts 
and the easterly part of N. Hamp- 
shire. It contained, in 1764, prob- 
ably between 20 and 30 families. It 
was incorporated September 21, 
1764, and received its name in hon- 
or of Meshech Weare, chief jus- 
tice of the province of N. H. The 
first church formed in Weare was of 
the baptist denomination. It was 
gathered Jan. 26, 1783. Rev. Amos 
Wood was ordained Nov. 19, 1788, 
and died Feb. 3, 1798. Rev. Ezra 
Wilmarth succeeded, and was in- 
stalled April 29, 1813; dismissed 
Aug. 11, 1817. Rev. John B. Gib- 
son was installed May 6, 1818 ; 
dismissed 1822. A congregational 
church was formed June 17, 1789, 
Rev. John Cayford was ordained 
Oct. 20, 1802 ; dismissed May 4, 
1808. A freewill baptist church 
was formed of members who se- 
ceded from the first baptist church, 
Oct. 20, 1806. Eld. Hezekiah D. 
Buzzell removed to Weare, Nov. 
27, 1812, and took charge of it, no 
installation being necessary, ac- 
cording to the faith and order of 
that connection There is also a 
large, respectable and wealthy so- 
ciety of friends, some of whom 
settled here as early as 1770. Since 
that time, they have been annually 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



257 



increasing in numbers, wealtli and 
respectability. There is a small so- 
ciety of universalists. Samuel 
Philbrick, Esq. was a worthy citi- 
zen of tWs town. He was a na- 
tive of Seabrook, removed to Weare 
in 1770, and died Dec. 28, 1806, 
aged 72. The number of deaths 
from March 1, 1813, to Jan. 1, 1822, 
was 281. Pop. 2800. 

Westdell, a township in Chesh- 
ire county, in lat. 43° 22', is bound- 
ed N. by Springfield, E. by Suna- 
pee lake, separating it from New- 
London and Fishersfield, S. by Go- 
shen, W. by Newport and Croydon, 
containing " 15,666 acres, 3000 of 
which are water. It is 35 miles 
from Concord and 80 from Ports- 
mouth. A considerable part of lake 
Sunapee, a noble sheet of water, 
lies in this town. The surface of 
this lake is said to contain 4,095 
acres, of which 2720 acres are in 
Wendell. Mere is the principal 
source of Sugar river, which flows 
from the lake near its centre from 
N. to S. ; passes through the centre 
of the town into Newport, from 
thence into Claremont, where it 
Hnites with the Connecticut. There 
are three small ponds, containing 
an area of about 300 acres. This 
town was granted by the name of 
Saville, Nov. 7, 1768, t^ John 
Sprague and others. It was settled 
in 1772 by emigrants from Rhode- 
Island. It was incorporated April 
4, 1781, when it received its name 
from John Wendell, one of the 
principal proprietors. The first 
minister was Rev. N. Woodward, 
a baptist. A congregational society 
was incorporated June 24, 1819. 
The number of deaths for 4 years 
was abont 20. Pop. 603. 

Wentworth, a post-township 
in Grafton county, in lat. 43° 50', 
is bounded N. by Warren, E. by 
Rumney, S. by Dorchester, and W. 



by Orford, containing 23,040 acres. 
It is 15 miles from Plymouth, and 
52 from Concord. This town is 
watered by Baker's river, on which 
is a fall of 18 or 20 feet, affording 
an excellent privilege for all kinds 
of water machinery. Over this 
fall is a bridge, maintained at the 
public expense. Near the bridge 
is a flourishing village, containing 
about 20 houses, several stores, 
shops for mechanics, and mills of 
various kinds. The S. branch of 
Baker's river passes through the 
southerly part of this town and joins 
the main branchnear Rumney line. 
There are but few ponds. Baker's, 
situated on Orford line, is the most 
considerable ; the outlet of which is 
called Pond brook, and affords water 
sufficient for several valuable mill 
seats. This stream unites with 
Baker's river just below the village. 
These streams contain all the vari- 
ous kinds of fish found in the state. 
Salmon, however, are not so plen- 
ty as formerly. In the E. part of 
the town, lies part of Carr's moun- 
tain, composed of a variety of val- 
uable stone, among which is found 
a great supply of the best granite. 
This kind is also found in various 
other parts of the town. This moun- 
tain was covered in its natural state 
with a heavy growth of forest trees, 
A part of the elevation called 
Mount Cuba lies in the W. part of 
Wentworth. This mountain con- 
tains inexhaustible quantities of 
the best limestone, of which a con- 
stant supply of good lime is made, 
and sold at a low price. Iron ore 
is found in various parts. The 
soil is generally good ; the lands in 
the vicinity of the rivers are of the 
first quality; the upland is in gen-p 
eral of a strong rich soil, but is un- 
even, and in some instances, quite 
elevated, which renders it an ex- 
cellent grazing town. Copperas is 



258 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE 6AZETTEER. 



Maanufactured in small quantities, 
and might be made a source of 
profit. Wentwovth was granted 
November 1, 1766, to Jolm Page, 
Esq. and others. It received its 
name from governor Benning 
Wentworth. The first settlement 
commenced a few years before the 
revolutionary war by emigrants 
from the S.part ofthis state and from 
Massachusetts. Articles of subsis- 
tence, potatoes and seeds for the 
propagation of vegetables, were 
transported thither from the lower 
part of the state on pack horses, 
hand-sleighs and in knapsacks. The 
only remarkable instance of lon- 

fevity in this place is Widow Jane 
I'Lellan a native of Ireland, who 
died Oct. 14, 1821, aged 101. The 
dysentery prevailed here about 20 
years since ; and in 1813 and 1815, 
the spotted fever carried off many 
persons of different ages. In this 
town are various denominations of 
christians all living harmoniously 
together. Pop. 807. 

Wentworth's Location, sit- 
uated N. of Errol in the county of 
Coos, in lat. 44° 48', was granted 
June 17, 1796, to George Went- 
worth, and comprised 10,000 acres. 
West River Mottntain.— 
See Chesterfield and Hinsdale. 

West»ioreland, a post-town 
on Connecticut river, in Cheshire 
county, is in lat. 42^ 58'. It is 
bounded N. by Walpole, E. by Sur- 
ry and Keene, S. by Chesterfield, 
and W. by Dummerston and Put- 
ney, Vt., containing 22,426 acres. 
Its distance from Concord is 65 
miles; from Boston, 100. This 
town is watered by several small 
streams which empty into the Con- 
necticut. The one issuing from 
Spafford's lake in Chesterfield is 
the largest, and affords some of the 
best water privileges in town. The 
jturfaee here is much less variega- 



ted with hills, mountains, vales, 
rivers and ponds, than the circum- 
jacent towns. There are tracts of 
fine intervals — and the land gener- 
ally has an excellent soil, and is 
well suited for cultivation. A 
bridge connects this town with Put- 
ney, and the 3d N. H. turnpike 
crosses its N. E. extremity. West- 
moreland was first granted by Mas- 
sachusetts and was called, JVumber 
2. It was afterwards known by 
the name of the Great Meadow, 
The present charter of the town 
was granted by N. H., Feb. 11, 
1752. The first settlement was 
made in 1741, by four families. 
Mrs. Lydia How, who died in 1806, 
at the age of 91, was one of the 
first inhabitants, and mother of the 
first child born in the township. 
The early settlers were several 
times attacked by the Indians, and 
various mischief was done, but of 
no great magnitude.^ In one of 
their excursions, the* killed Wil- 
liam Phips, the first husband of 
Jemima How; and in another, car- 
ried Nehemiah How, the father of 
her second husband, a captive to 
Canada, where he died. (See Bel- 
knap's Hist. JY. H. Vol. II, pages 
240,241.) There is a congrega- 
tional church, over which Rev. 
William Goddard was ordained in 
1764. He graduated at Harvard 
college in 1761. Rev. Allen Pratt, 
who graduated at Harvard college 
in 1785, is the present minister. 
There are two baptist churches. 
The 1st was formed in 1771 ; the 
2d in 1785. There are universal- 
ists and other denominations. 
There are 3 meeting-houses. Ma- 
jor Ezra Pierce, a senator in the 
legislature in 1802 and 1803, resi- 
ded in this town. Pop. 2000. 

Wheelwright's pond is in 
Lee ; and is the principal source of 
[Oyster river. It is memorable for 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



259 



the battle which was fouglrt near it 
in 1690, between a scouting party 
of Indians and two companies of 
rangers, under Capts. Floyd and 
Wiswall. The engagement lasted 
2 hours. Wiswall, his lieutenant, 
sergeant, and 12 men were killed 
and several wounded. Floyd con- 
tinued the fight, till his men, weari- 
ed and wounded, drew off and 
obliged him to follow. The enemy 
also retreated. 

Whitefield, in Coos county, 
lat. 44° 21', is an irregular town- 
ship, lying S. of Lancaster, W. of 
Jefferson, N. of Bretton-Woods and 
Bethlehem, E. of Dalton, compris- 
ing 20,800 acre?. Its soil is general- 
ly thin and light, of easy cultivation 
and tolerably good; though in the 
N. part low spruce swamps abound. 
No town in the county possesses 
an equal share of pine timber ; this 
is now transported in great quanti 
ties down John's river to the Con- 
necticut. In this town lie part of 
Blake's, Long, Round and Little 
River ponds, beside two other small 
ponds. The second of these is a 
beautiful pond of considerable size, 
abounding with fish. John's river 
passes through this town. White- 
field was granted July 4, 1774, to 
Josiah Moody and others, and soon 
after settled by Maj. Burns and 
others. It has increased in popula- 
tion more rapidly than any other 
town in the county. In 1810 there 
were but 51 inhabitants, and there 
are now upwards of 280. The new 
road from Lancaster to Concord 
passes through this town ; it short 
ens the distance usually travelled 
about 30 miles. A turnpike from 
Peeling to the S. line of this town 
has been granted, which, if complet 
ed and extended to Lancaster 
would turn much of the trade of 
Coos county through Concord, the 
seat of government ; and being the 
direct route from Qusbeck to Bos 



ton,would be much the nearest way 
to the markets for the northern parts 
of this state and Vermont. White- 
field is 120 miles from Concord. 
Pop. 281. 

White Moitntains. — The 
lofty pile, designated by the name 
of White Mountains,* is situated 
in the N. part of New-Hampshire, 
and nearly in the centre of the 
county of Coos. These mountains 
extend about 20 miles from S. W. 
to N. E. being the more elevated 
parts of a range extending many 
miles in that direction. Their base 
is 8 or 10 miles broad ; and situat- 
ed about 25 miles S. E. from Lan- 
caster, 70 N. of Concord, 82 N. by 
W. from Portsmouth •, and in lat. 
440 15/, long. 71© 20' W. These 
mountains are the loftiest in New- 
England, and perhaps in the United 
States. Although distant more 
than 60 miles from the nearest part 

* The Indian na me (according to Dr. 
Belknap) was Affiocochook. An ancient 
tradition prevailed among the savages, 
that a deluge once overspread the land, 
and destroyed every human being, ex- 
cept a single powaw and his wife, who 
sheltered themselves in these elevated 
regions, and thus preserved the race 
from extermination. The fancy of the 
natives peopled this mountain with be- 
ings of a superior rank, who were in- 
visible to the human eye, but sometimes 
indicated their presence by tempests, 
which they were believed to control 
with absolute authority. The savages, 
therefore, never attempted to ascend 
the summit, deeming the attempt per- 
ilous, and success impossible. But they 
frequented the defiles and environs of 
the mountain, and of course propagat- 
ed many extravagant descriptions of its 
appearance ; declaring, amongst other 
things equally credible, that they 
had seen carbuncles at imm-ense heights, 
which, in the darkness of night, shone 
with the most brilliant and dazzling 
splendor. 

President Alden states, that the 
White mountains were called by one of 
the eastern tribes Wmimbekket7nethna, 
Waumbekket signifies -white, and metif 
na, movntams^ 



Z60 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEEH. 



of the coast, their snow-white sum- 
mits are distinctly visible many 
leagues at sea, and along the coast 
of Maine. Their great elevation 
has always rendered them interest- 
ing, both to our ancestors, and to 
the aboriginal inhabitants of the 
country. As early as 1635, they 
were visited .by Neal, Jocelyn and 
Field, who gave romantic accounts 
of their adventures, and of the ex- 
lent and grandeur of the mountains, 
wiiich they called the Crystal Hills. 
Since that time, these regions have 
been repeatedly explored by hunt- 
ers, and by men of science. The 
height of the mountains has been 
a subject of much speculation. Dr. 
Williams supposed the summit of 
Mount Washington to be 7,800 feet 
above the sea. Dr. Cutler fixed 
ihe height of this mountain at 
10,000; and Dr. Belknap supposed 
it to exceed this elevation. Late 
computations, however, have given 
far different results ; one making it 
7,108, another 6,634, another 6234, 
enoiher 6,225, and another 6,103. 
Capt. Partridge, from a series of 
barometrical observations, makes 
the height of Mount Washington 
6,234 feet above the level of the sea, 
and the base of the range 1,770. 
Tn 1820, A. N. Brackett, and J. W. 
Weeks, Esqrs. from Lancaster, as- 
«ortained the height of all the prin- 
cipal peaks by means of a spirit 
level. In this undertaking they 
spent 7 days ; and according to their 
measurement. Mount Washington 
is 6,428 feet above the level of the 
sea, 5,850 above the river at Lan- 
caster, and 4,781 above Crawford's, 
the nearest dwelling to the summit. 
This mountain is easily known by 
its superior elevation, and its being 
the southern of the three highest 
peaks. The heights of the other 
peaks above the Connecticut at 
l-ancastej;, are as follow ; 



Mount Adams, 5,383 feet; 

" Jefferson, - - - . 5,281 
" Madison, - - - . 5,039 
" Monroe, - . . . 4,932 
" Franklin, - - - - 4,470 
" Pleasant, * - - - 4,339 
The names here given are those 
generally appropriated to the differ- 
ent summits. Mount Adams is 
known by its sharp terminating 
peak, and being the second N. of 
Washington. Jefferson is situated 
between these two. Madison is the 
eastern peak of the range. Monroe 
is the first to the S. of Washington. 
Franklin is the second S. and is 
known by its level surface. PleaS' 
ant is known by its conical shape, 
and being the third S. of Washing- 
ton. The ascent to the summits of 
these mountains, though fatiguing, 
is not dangerous ; and the visitant 
is richly rewarded for his labor and 
curiosity. In passing from the 
Notch to the highest summit^ the 
traveller crosses the summits of 
Mounts Pleasant, Franklin and 
Monroe. In accomplishing this, he 
must pass through a forest, and cross? 
several ravines. These are neither 
wide nor deep, nor are they discov- 
ered at a great distance ; for the 
trees fill them up exactly even with 
the mountain on each side, and 
their branches interlock with each 
other in such a manner, that 
it is very difficult to pass through 
them, and they are so stiff and thick 
as almost to support a man's weight. 
Mount Pleasant is easily ascended. 
Its top, to the extent of 5 or 6 acres, 
is smooth, and gradually slopes 
away in every direction from its 
centre. It even has a verdant ap- 
pearance, as it is every where cov- 
ered with short grass, which grows 
in little tufts to the height of four 
or five inches. Among these tufts, 
mountain flowers are thinly scat- 
tered, which add life and beauty to 
the scene. The prospect from thi? 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



261 



summit is beautiful : to the N. the I 
eye is dazzled with the splendor of 
Mount Washington : N. W. are 
seen the settlements in Jefferson ; 
W. the courses of the Amonoosuck, 
as though delineated on a map ; S. 
W. the Moosehillock and Haystack 
are discovered; S. Chocorua peak; 
S. E. the settlements and moun- 
tains in Bartlett ; E. only dark 
mountains and forests. On de- 
scending this mountain, a small 
patch of water is found at its base ; 
from which the ascent is gradual to 
the summit of Mount Franklin. 
After crossing this mountain, you 
pass over the E. pinnacle of Mount 
Monroe, and soon find yourself on 
a plain of some extent, at the foot 
of Mount Washington. Here is a 
fine resting-place, on the margin of 
a beautiful sheet of water, of an 
oval form, covering about 3-4 of an 
acre. The waters are pleasant to 
the taste, and deep. Not a living 
creature is to be seen in the waters, 
at this height on the hills ; nor do 
vegetables of any kind grow in or 
around them, to obscure the clear 
rocky or gravelly bottom on which 
they rest. A small spring discharg- 
es itself into this pond at its south- 
east angle. Another pond, of about 
2-3 its size, lies N. W. of this. 
Directly before you, the pinnacle 
of Mount Washington rises with 
majestic grandeur, like a immense 
pyramid, or some vast Kremlin in 
this magnificent city of mountains 
l^he pinnacle is elevated afeout 
1500 feet above the plain, and is 
composed principally of huge rocks 
of granite and gneiss piled together, 
presenting a variety of coldrs and 
forms. In ascending, you must pass 
enormous masses of loose stones; 
but a^walk of half an hour will 
(generally carry you to the summit. 
The view from this point is wonder- 
fully grand and picturesque. In- 
Y2 



numerable mountains, lakes, ponds, 
rivers, towns and villages meet the 
delighted eye, and the dim Atlantic 
stretches its waters along the east- 
ern horizon. To the N. is seen the 
lofty summits of Adams and Jeffer- 
soH ; and to the east a little detach- 
ed from the range stands Mount 
Madison. Mount Washington is 
supported on the N. by a high ridge, 
which extends to Mount Jefferson ; 
on the N. E. by a large grassy plain, 
terminating in a vast spur extend- 
ing far away in that direction ; E. by 
a promontory, which breaks off 
abruptly at St. Anthony's Nose ; S. 
and S. E. by a grassy plain, in sum- 
mer, of more than 40 acres. At 
the southeastern extremity of this 
plain, a ridge commences, which 
slopes gracefully away towards the 
vale of the Saco ; upon which at 
short distances from each other, 
arise rocks, resembling, in some 
places, towers; in others represent- 
ing the various orders of architec- 
ture. It would be vain in us to at- 
tempt a description of the varied 
wonders which here astonish and 
delight the beholder. To those 
who have visited these mountains, 
our descriptions would be tame and 
uninteresting; and he who has nev- 
er ascended their hoary summits, 
cannot realize the extent and mag- 
nificence of the scene. These 
mountains are decidedly of primi- 
tive formation. Nothing of volca- 
nic origin has ever yet been discov- 
ered on the most diligent research. 
They have for ages, probably, ex- 
hibited the same unvarying aspect. 
No minerals are here found of much 
rarity or value. The rock which 
most abounds, is schistus, intermix- 
ed with greenstoP'i, mica, granite 
and gneiss. The three highest 
peaks are composed entirely of 
fragments of rocks heaped together 
in confusion, but pretty firmly fix- 



2G2 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



ed in their situations. Tliese rocks 
are an intermediate substance be- 
tween gneiss and micaceous schis- 
tus ; they are excessively rough and 
coarse, and grey, almost black, with 
lichens. The mica in them is 
abundant, of different colors, red, 
black, and limpid, and though some- 
times several inches in diameter,yet 
most often irregularly stratified. 
The granite contains emerald, tour- 
maline of which are found some 
beautiful specimens, and garnets, 
besides its proper constituents. 
Crystals of quartz, pyrites, actin- 
ote, jasper, porphyry, fluate of lime, 
and magnetic iron ore, are some- 
times obtained. During nine or ten 
months of the year, the summits of 
the mountains are covered with 
snow and ice, giving them a bright 
and dazzling appearance. On every 
side are long and winding gullies, 
deepening in their descent to the 
plains below. Here some of the 
finest rivers of New-England origin- 
ate. The Saco flows from the E. 
side of the mountains ; the branch- 
B8 of the Ameriscoggin from the N. ; 
the Amonoosnck and other tributa- 
ries of the Connecticut from the W.: 
and the Peir.igewasset from the S., 
its fountain being near that of the 
Saco. The sides of the hills are in 
many parts covered with soil ; but 
this is very superficial in all cases, 
and every spot, that can be reached 
by running water, is left destitute 
of every thing but rocks and pebbles, 
of which likewise the river-bottoms 
are exclusively composed. In these 
cold and elevated regions, the 
period for the growth of vegetables 
is extremely brief; the mountains 
must be forever sterile. Moss and 
lichens may be found near the sum- 
mits, but of meagre and scanty 
growth — looking as if they had 
wandered from their proper zone 



below, into these realms of barren 
desolation. 

The J^otch of the White Moun- 
tains, is a phrase appropriated to a 
very narrow defile, extending two 
miles in length between two huge 
clififs apparently rent asunder bj 
some vast convulsion of nature-prob- 
abiy that of the deluge. The entrance 
of the chasm is fonned by two rocks 
standing perpendicular at the dis- 
tance of 22 feet from each other : 
one about 20 feet in height, the 
other about 12. The road from Lan- 
caster to Portland passes through 
this notch, following the course of 
the head stream of the Saco. The 
scenery at this place is exceeding- 
ly beautiful and grand. The moun- 
tain, otherwise a continued range, 
is here cloven quite down to its 
base, opening a passage for the 
waters of the Saco. The gap is so 
narrow, that space has with diffi- 
culty been found for the road. About 
half a mile from the entrance of the 
chasm is seen a most beautiful cas- 
cade, issuing from a mountain on 
the right about 800 feet above the 
subjacent valley, and about 2 miles 
distant. The stream passes over a 
series of rocks almost perpendicular, 
with a course so little broken as to 
preserve the appearance of a uni- 
form current, and yet so far disturb- 
ed as to be perfectly white. This 
beautiful stream.which passes down 
a stupendous precipice, is called by 
Dwight the Silver Cascade. It is 
probably one of the most beautiful 
in the_world. At the distance of 
three fourths of a mile from the en- 
trance of the chasm is a brook, call- 
ed the Flume, which falls from a 
height of 240 or 250 feet over three 
precipices — down the two first in a 
single current, and over tli£ last in 
three, which unite again at the bot- 
tom in a small basin formed by the 






KM 




-^ 




KO'XCa IN THE MOUItfTAIKTS. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



263 



hand of nature in the rocks. The 
water is pure and transparent, and 
it would be impossible for a brook 
of its size to be moddeled into more 
diversified or delightful forms. It 
is by no means strange that the un- 
lettered Indian fancied these re- 
gions to be the abodes of celestial 
beings ; while the scholar, without 
a stretch of fancy, in calling to 
mind the mythology of Greece, 
vnight find here a fit place for the 
assemblies and sports of the Dryads, 
Naiads and Oreades. For a more 
particular notice of these moun- 
tains, the reader is referred to Bel- 
knap's Hist. N. H. ; Dwight's Trav- 
els ; N. E. Journal ; and N. H. 
Hist. Coll. for 1823. 

WiLMOT, a township in the N. 
extremity of Hillsborough county, 
in lat. 430 27', is bounded N. W. 
by Springfield, N. E. by Danbury 
New-Chester and Andover, S. by 
Warner, S. W. by Sutton and New- 
London, containing 15,000 acres, 
of which 9000 were taken from 
New-London and 6000 from Kear- 
sarge gore. It is 30 miles from 
Concord, and 87 from Boston. The 
streams forming Blackwater river 
have their origin in the vicinity of 
Wilmot. They afford a number 
of good mill seats. The 4th N. H. 
lurnpike from Concord to Hanover 
passes through this town. It was 
made in 1803, through an entire 
forest without any inhabitants for 
14 miles above, and about 6 miles 
below Wilmot. The land near 
the turnpike appears rude and bar 
ren : but the acclivities on either 
side are susceptible of cultivation 
The town is composed of hills and 
valleys, presenting a rough surface, 
There are no large collections of 
water, nor any mountains, except 
ing Kearsarge, whose summit forms 
the southern boundary. Wilmot, 
for the last 10 years has had a more 



rapid growth than any other towm 
in the county, having more than 
doubled its population. The great- 
er part of Wilmot was originally 
included in a grant made in 1775, 
by the Masonian proprietors, to Jo- 
nas Minot, Matthew Thornton and 
others. It was incorporated June 
18, 1807. It received its name in 
honor of Dr. Wilmot, an English- 
man, who, at one time, was suppo- 
sed to be the author of the celebra- 
ted letters of Junius. Pop. 670. 

Wilton, a post-township, Hills- 
borough county, in lat. 42° 50', is 
bounded N. by Lyndeborough, E. 
by Lyndeborough and Milford, S. 
by Mason, and W. by Temple, con- 
taining 15,280 acres. It is 9 
miles from Amherst, 37 from Con- 
cord and 58 from Boston. Sou- 
hegan is the principal river. Its 
main branch enters this town near 
the S. W. corner and proceeds in 
a N. E. course till it forms a junc- 
tion with several branches running 
from Lyndeborough and Temple. 
These flow through the N. part, and 
are sufficiently large for mill 
streams. This town has neither 
mountains, ponds, nor swamps. It 
is, in genera], pretty rocky, but of 
a strong and excellent soil. The 
principal growth of wood is oak, 
pine, beech, maple, birch, hemlock, 
and some chesnut. Good clay is 
found in plenty near streams of 
water. There are several quarries 
of excellent stone for splitting and 
hewing. No uncommon sickness 
has ever been known here except 
in 1801, when a malignant and con- 
tagious fever prevailed, which was 
supposed to be introduced in a par- 
cel of old feathers brought into 
town and lold by pedlers. The 
whole number of deaths, from 1783 
to July, 1820, was about 387. 
There is a female charitable socie- 
ty, a literary and moral society, 



S64 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



and a library society. Wilton was 
owned by the proprietors of land 
purchased of John Tufton Mason, 
Esq., and by them was surveyed 
and laid out into 80 acre lots and 
designated by the name of Mum- 
her 2. The first settlement was 
made in 1738, by three families 
from Danvers, Ms., two by the 
name of Putnam, and one by the 
name of Dale. Hannah, the daugh- 
ter of Ephraim Putnam, was the 
first child born in town. She was 
born in March, 1741 ; married a 
Mr. Woodward of Lyndeborough, 
where she died in Oct. 1811, aged 
70. The town was incorporated 
June 25, 1762, and derived its name 
from Wilton, an ancient borough 
in Wiltshire, England. A distres- 
sing accident occurred in raising 
the second meeting-house, Sept. 7, 
1773. The frame fell, and 3 men 
were instantly killed ; two died of 
their wounds soon afterward, and 
a number of others wei-e badly in- 
jured. On July 20, 1804, the same 
meeting-house was struck by light- 
ning arvd considerably shattered. 
A congregational church, consist- 
ing of 8 male members, was gather- 
ed Dec. 14, 1763. Rev. Jonathan 
Livermore was ordained the same 
day. He was dismissed in Feb. 
1777, and died at Wilton, July 20, 
1809, aged 80. Rev. Abel Fiske 
was ordained November 18, 1778, 
and died April 21, 1802, aged 50. 
Rev. Thomas Beede was ordained 
March 2, 1803. The number of ad- 
missions to the church, from its for- 
mation to 1820, was 472 ; baptisms 
1197. A baptist church was form- 
ed April 7, 1817, over which Rev. 
Ezra Wilmarth was installed Nov. 
11, 1818. There is a small society 
of unjversalists. Pop. 1070. 

Winchester, a post-township, 
in the S. W. part of Cheshire coun- 
ty, in lat. 42° 46', is bounded N. by 



Chesterfield and Swanzey, E. by 
Richmond, S. by Warwick and 
Northfield, in Mass., W. by Hins- 
dale, containing 33,534 acres, 600 
of which are water. Tt is 15 miles 
from Keene, 70 from Concord, 83 
from Boston, 80 from Hartford and 
85 from Albany. Ashuelot river 
enters this town at its N. E. angle, 
and runs in a S. W. and W. course 
t® Hinsdale. It receives on the E., 
Muddy brook, and on the N., Broad 
brook and several other small 
streams. Humphrey's pond is ia 
the N. E. part of the town. It is 
300 rods long and 80 rods wide. 
From the centre to the S. E., the 
land is very level. In other parts, 
the surface is more uneven. The 
seil is generally good. The prin- 
cipal forest trees are white and yel- 
low pine, chesnut, white and red 
oak, rock maple.&c. In 1822, there 
were sent to Connecticut market, 
from this town, 200 thousand white 
oak staves, from 8 to 10 hundred 
thousand feet of pine lumber, and 
large quantities of shingles, casks, 
&;c. Winchester has two villages, 
both pleasantly situated on Ashuelot 
river, one in the centre, containing 
27 dwelling houses, 1 meeting- 
house, with a clock, bell and well 
toned organ, a school house, the 
most elegant in the county of 
Cheshire, 3 taverns, 4 stores, and 
several mechanic shops, &c. ; the 
other, in the W. part, containing 
21 dwelling houses, 1 cotton facto- 
ry, 1 small woollen factory, 1 nail 
factory, 1 scythe factory, 1 large 
oil mill, 1 furnace, 1 tavern, 1 store, 
&c. The 6th N. H. turnpike pas- 
ses through Winchester. There 
is a respectable library in this town. 
Only one native has received a col- 
legiate education. It is a singular 
fact, recollected by the early inhab- 
itants, that Josiah Willard, one of 
the principal grantees of this town, 



KEW-HAMPSHTRE GAZETTEER. 



26S 



refused to have Dartmouth college 
located in Winchester, on account 
of his belief that it would have a 
tendency to depreciate the value 
of his possessions. This town 
was probably first granted by Mas 
sachusetts. Its first name was Ar 
lington. It was chartered by N. H. 
July 2, 1753, to Josiah Willard and 
others, who had, about the year 
1 732, effected a settlement. In the 
Indian war, which comnnenced a 
number of years afterwards, the 
inhabitants had all their private 
buildings and their meeting-house 
burnt by the enemy. On the 7th 
of June, 1756, Josiah Foster and 
his family were taken captives by 
the Indians, A congregational 
church, consisting of 12 mem 
bers, was formed November 12, 
1736. Rev. Joseph Ashley, who 
graduated at Yale college in 1730, 
was ordained Nov. 12, 1736; re- 
moved in 1747, on account of the 
Indian war. Rev. Micah Law- 
rence, who graduated at Harvard 
college, was ordained Nov. 14, 
1764; dismissed Feb. 19, 1777. 
Rev. Ezra Conant, who graduated 
at Harvard college in 1784, was 
ordained Feb. 19, 1783 ; dismissed 
Oct. 13, 1806. Rev. Experience 
Porter, a graduate of Dartmouth 
college in 1803, was ordained Nov. 
12, 1807 ; dismissed Feb. 20, 1810. 
Rev. Salmon Bennet was ordained 
Sept. 10, 1817; dismissed 1822. 
Communicants about 100. There 
is a methodist society, and some 
universalists. Pop. 1849. 

Windham, post-township, in 
Rockingham county, lat. 42° 48', 
is bounded N. by Londonderry, E. 
by Salem, S. by Pelham, W. by 
Nottingham-W^st and Londonder- 
ry. It is 35 miles from Boston, 34 
from Concord, 30 from Exeter, 45 
from Portsmouth, 22 from Amherst ; 
and contains 15,744 acres. Policy 



pond lies in this town and Salem — 
about one half in each. Cabot's 
pond lies E. of the centre of the 
town. Golden pond is in the S., 
and Mitchell's in the N. E. part of 
the town. There is another small 
pond between Windham and Sa- 
lem, N. E. of Policy pond. Bea- 
ver river or brook forms the W. 
boundary, upon which are some 
meadow lands. The town is also 
well supplied with small streams. 
The Londonderry turnpike passes 
over this town. Windham was 
originally a part of Londonderry ; 
and was detached and incorpora- 
ted Feb. 25, 1739. The inhabi- 
tants, principally derived from the 
first settlers of Londonderry, have 
firmly adhered to the religious prin- 
ciples of their fathers — to the doc- 
trines and forms of the presbyte- 
rian church as originally establish- 
ed in Scotland, and administered 
in this country. A presbyterian 
church was organized, and Rev. 
William Johnston installed in 
1747 : he was dismissed in July, 
1752. In 1753, a meeting-house 
was erected on the S. side of Ca- 
bot's pond. Rev. John Kinkead 
was ordained in Oct. 1760; and 
dismissed in April, 1765. Rev. 
Simon Williams was ordained ia 
Dec. 1766 ; continued to preach 
27 years, and died Nov. 10, 1793, 
aged 64. A new meeting-house 
was erected in 1798. Rev. Samu' 
el Harris was ordained by the Lon- 
donderry presbytery in Oct. 1805. 
The spotted fever appeared at 
Windham in 1812. From March 
30, to April 18, there died 16—3 
[adults, and 13 children. 13 died 
'in 8 days. Pop. 889. 

Windsor, a small township of 
a triangular form, in Hillsborough 
county, in lat. 43° 6>, is bounded 
N. by Washington, E. by Hills- 
borough, S. by Antrim and W. by 



266 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Stoddard, containing 5,335 acres. 
It is diversified with hills; its soil 
is strong, good for grazing, and for 
bread stuffs, of which quantities 
sufiFicient for use at home, and some 
for the markets are raised. Black 
pond, near the centre, is said to be 
160 rods long and 80 broad ; and 
one near the S. E. corner of the 
town, is about 80 rods long and 40 
wide. This town has 3 school dis- 
tricts, 2 school houses, 1 tavern, 
1 grain mill, 2 saw mills and 1 ful- 
ling mill. The 2d Nl H. turnpike 
passes through the N. part. Wind- 
sor was formerly called Campbell's 
Gore. It was incorporated with 
town privileges in Nov. 1798. A- 
mong its early settlers was Capt. 
Swett, whose posterity still reside 
here. Pop. 240. 

WiNSLOw's Location, in Coos 
county, lat. 44° 34', is bounded N. 
by ungranted lands, E. by Dummer, 
S. E. by Paulsburgh and Kilkenny, 
W. by Piercy •, and contains 5,060 
acres. It was granted Oct. 21, 1773, 
to John Winslow, of Marshfield, 
Ms. who served as Maj. Gen. Com. 
of the Prov. forces of Nev/-Eng- 
land. New- York and Nev/-Jersey. 
There were only 6 inhabitants, in 
1820. 

WiNNEPiSiOGEE Lake, is sit- 
uated between lat. 430 29', and 43° 
44' ; and between long. 71° 5', 
and 71° 25', W. from Greenwich ; 
and a little E. of the centre of New- 
Hampshire. Its form is very irreg- 
ular. At the W. end, it is divided 
into three large bays ; on the N. is 
a fourth; and at the E. end there 
are three others. Its general course 
is from N. W. to S. E ; its length 
about 22 miles, varying in width 
from 1 to 10 miles. The townships 
on its borders may be seen by refer- 
ring to the mapi The waters of 
the Winnepisiogee are reir.arkably 
pv9re ; and when taken froa a suffi- 



cient depth to give them a proper 
temperature, are perfectly sweet 
and palatable. This lake has a 
great number of islands. Like those 
in Lake George, and in Casco Bay, 
they are here declared to be three 
hundred and sixty-five. Without 
supposing the days of the year to 
have been consulted, on the subject, 
we may naturally conclude that 
the number is considerable. Sev- 
eral of these islands are sufficiently 
large for farms — one containing 500 
acres. The prospect^ of this lake 
from the mountains surrounding it, 
is enchanting, and in no degree in- 
ferior to that of Lake George, long 
celebrated, and visited by thous- 
ands. A variety of excellent fish 
are found in this lake. The waters 
are frozen during the winter, pre- 
senting a beautiful icy expansion. 
This lake might be connected by 
canals with the Pascataqua ; and 
open an immense field of business 
between Portsmouth and the inte- 
rior. Seep. 14, Gen. Vieio. 

Winnepisiogee River is the 
great outlet to the lake of that name; 
and issues from the S. W. arm of 
the lake. It thence passes through 
two bays between Meredith and 
Gilford, entering the Great Bay in 
the N. E. part of Sanbornton. From 
thence it passes through two other 
bays, forming the boundary between 
Sanbornton on the N. W. and Gil- 
manton and Northfield S. E. ; and 
unites with the Pemigewasset a 
short distance below Webster's 
falls. The stream is rapid in its 
course, and has a fall of 232 feet 
from the lake to its junction with 
the other branch of the Merrimack : 
this name being given to the con- 
fluent stream. There are numer- 
ous bridges over the Winnepisiogee; 
which also furnishes many excel- 
lent privileges for factories or other 
machinery. Su Merrimack river. 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER 



267 



WiNNICtJT or WiNNICONETT, a 

tributary of the Pascataqua, rises 
in a swamp between Hampton and 
North-Hampton, and passes N. into 
the Great Bay at Greenland. 

WOLFEBOROUGH, pOSt-tOWn- 

ship, Strafford county, in lat. 43° 
36', is about 105 miles from Bos- 
ton, 45 from Portsmouth, 45 from 
Concord. It is bounded S. E. by 
Brookfield and New-Durham, S.W. 
by Winnepisiogee lake and Alton, 
N. E. by Ossipee, N. W. by Tuf- 
tonborough, and contains 28,600 
acres. The soil is rocky, but pro- 
ductive, and the face of the coun- 
try level. The wood is principally 
oak and other hard timber. Theon- 
ly river is Smith's, so called from 
a hunter of that name ; it issues 
from a large pond of the same name 
in the S. E. part of the town, and 
discharges its waters into the lake. 
There are four other ponds of con- 
siderable magnitude, called Crook- 
ed, Rust's, Barton's and Sargent's 
ponds. There is a bridge over 
Smith's river about 60 feet long, 
near its entrance into the lake 
Near this bridge is a pleasant vil 
lage. This town is divided into 
ten school districts, in which are 
kept good schools during a portion 
of the year. The academy in this 
town has funds to the amount of 
$5000 ; and is in a flourishing con- 
dition. Here are two meeting- 



houses, .a social library, several 
mills, &;c. The charter of Wolfe- 
borough was granted in 1770, to 
Gov. John Wentworth, Mark H. 
Wentworth and others. In the 
course of the year there were 30 
families settled in the town. Gov. 
Wentworth, distinguished for his 
enterprize and taste, and a fond- 
ness for agricultural improvements, 
erected a splendid mansion about 
5 miles east of the bridge, and 
made it his summer residence. 
After Gov. Wentworth left the 
country, the house fell into other 
hands, and was accidentally con- 
sumed by fire a fevi^ years since. 
Among the first settlers of this town 
were Benjamin Blake, James Lucas, 
JosepVi Lary, Ithamar Fullerton 
and others, from Pembroke. Rev. 
Ebenezer Allen, who graduated at 
Harvard college in 1771, was set- 
tled over a congregational church 
here Oct. 25, 1792. At the same 
time, Elder Isaac Townsend was 
settled over a freewill baptist soci- 
ety. Rev. Mr. Allen died in 1806, 
at the age of 60 ; since which time 
his church has been vacant. The 
freewill baptist church is also va- 
cant. At the foot of a hill, near one 
of the ponds in this town, is a min- 
eral spring, the waters of which are 
of a quality similar to those of 
Saratoga. Pop. 1794. 



ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS, 



IN THE GENERAL VIEW. 

Page 11. James Atwood, who died in 1812, belonged to Hampstead. 
" 12. For Mrs. Cilley, who is said to have died in 1820, read Pat' 

Hence Sibley. 
** *' For Tryphena Stiles, read Lydia Stiles. 



268 



NEWHAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Page 12. Mrs. Bailey, [ Widow Hannah Bayley] of Chesterfield, died 

in Nov. 1822, aged 104 years and 3 months, as mentioned 

under Chesterfield, page 101. 
»• '• The venerahle Samuel WeJch, of Bow, died April 5, 1823, 

aged 112 years, 6 months and 23 days. 
" " To the living instances of longevity may he added Mrs. 

Copp and Mrs. Smart, of Sanbornton, each over 100 yre. 
" 20. In the 2d line, for excel, read exceed. 
" 50. Northwood has 8 school-houses and 2 bark mills. 



IN THE GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TOWNS. 



Bath. For Edinburg, read Ed- 
inburgh. 

Bow. This town was settled in 
1727 by some of the proprietors, 
while most of the surrounding 
country, except Concord, remain- 
ed uncultivated for several years. 

Canterbury. [Richard] Blan- 
chard was killed, according to a 
memorandum of Rev. Mr. Walker, 
of Concord, June 11, 1746. 

Chesterfield. Rev. John 
Walker was installed as colleague 
with Rev. Abraham Wood, April 
30, 1823. 

Dublin is in lat. 43° 54'. 

Dunstable. On page 122, 2d 
eol. line 14, for were, read was. 

Durham. Hon, Ebenezer 
Thompson was not a lawyer, but 
a physician ; and at different peri- 
ods of his life, a judge of the court 
of common pleas, and of the supe- 
rior court. 

Epping. In the 5th line 2d col. 
of page 129, erase the words " and 
representative." On the next page, 
read Rev. Samuel Shepard, vdio 
received the title of Dr. on account 
of his being a physician. 

Epsom. Hon. John M'Cl A r y 
of this town deserves respectful 
notice. He was a native of Ireland, 
and, at an early period of his life, 
came to this country. He was a 



useful and worthy man ;— a mem- 
ber of the committee of safety dur- 
ing the revolution, a justice of the 
peace throughout the state, one of the 
first senators chosen by the people 
under the newgoveinment,and from 
the senate was elected the first 
counsellor for the county of Rock- 
ingham under the new constitution. 
He died June 16, 1801, aged 82. 

Exeter. Where mention is 
made of Hon. Nathaniel Pea- 
body as being a " senator in 1792," 
it ought to be understood that he 
was a senator of the JV. H. legisla- 
ture, of which, in the house of 
representatives, he was speaker in 
1793. 

FrAnconia. The altitude of 
the peak mentioned under this to^vA 
is put as we received it. Dr. 
George, who has visited it, esti- 
mates the height at 600 feet. 

GiLMANTON. " The Gilmanton 
Museum" was published in this 
town about 6 months in 1800, by 
Elijah Russell. It was followed 
about Sept. 1, the same year by the 
"Gilmanton Gazette & Farmers' 
Weekly Magazine," published by 
Leavitt & Clough. We have also 
seen a number of " The Miscella- 
neous Repository and Farm.ers' and 
Tradesman's Magazine," contain- 
ing 104 pages, published in Oilman- 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZET lEER. 



ton in 1805, by Dudley Leavitt, one 
of the editors of the last named 
paper, 

Hampstead. Hon. John Calfe 
was an inhabitant of this place, in- 
stead of a " native." He was born 
in Newbury, Ms., June 13, 1741. 
Rev. John Kelly was ordained 
Dec. 5, 1792. 

Hampton-Falls. Hon. Me- 
SHECH Weare was one of thfe 
most worthy and distinguished citi- 
zens of N,H. He was descended 
from ancestors who had been in 
public stations, from the first estab- 
lishment of the province. He him- 
self had been employed in public 
business about forty-five years. He 
was chosen speaker of the house 
in 1752; commissioner to the con- 
gress at Albany in 1754; after- 
wards one of the justices of the 
superior court, and in 1777, chief 
justice. From the declaration of 
independence to the conclusion of 
the war, he was invested at the same 
time, with the highest offices, legis- 
lative, judicial and executive. Un- 
der the new constitution, adopted in 
1784, he was elected the first pres- 
ident ; but he resigned before the 
close of the year. He died, worn 
out with public services, Jan. 15, 
1786. in the 73tl year of his age. 
President Weare received a liberal 
education, and graduated at Har- 
var« college in 1735. He was 
elected a fellow of the American 
academy of arts and sciences on the 
SOth of Jan. 1782, and his election 
was announced to him, by a letter 
from Rev. Dr. Willard, president 
of Harvard college. Rev. Sam- 
pel Langpon, D. D. passed the 
last 16 years of his life in this town. 
He was a native of Boston, gmduat- 
ed at Harvard college in 1740. He 
was a chaplain of the N. H. regi- 
rxient in the expedition against 
Louisbourg, and in consequence of' 
Z 



his services, his ''fatigues and dan- 
gers," received a grant of 1000 acres 
of land in this then province. He 
was afterwards ministfr of the first 
church in Portsmouth, from Feb. 4, 
1747. In 1774, he was invited to the 
presidency of Harvard college, and 
was inducted into office, Oct. 14, 
1774. He resigned Aug. 30,1780, 
and on the 18th Jan. 1781, was in- 
stalled at Hamoton-Falls, v/here Ijje 
died Nov. 29, 1797, aged 75. 

Hanover. A newspaper, be- 
sides those mentioned, called "The 
American," was published in this 
town by David Watson, jun. It 
commenced Feb. 7, 181G; and was 
discontinued April 2, 1817. 

Hillsborough. For Lyon pond, 
read Loon pund. In Hillsborough, 
there is an academy in operation, 
which v/as incorporated June 29, 
1821. Rev. Stephen Chapin was 
dismissed May 10, 1808. 

HoPKiNTOisr. This town was 
granted Jan. 16. 1736. Rev. Elijah 
Fletcher was ordained Jan. 27,1773. 

Jefferson. In the lOih line 
from the bottom, 1st col. read Mark 
H. Wentworth. 

Keene. The " Rising Sun" 
commenced in Aug. 1795, instead 
of 1799. 

Kensington. Rev. Jos&pliA. 
E.Long,^ Congregation ALiST, 
was ordained June 5, 1822. 

Lancaster. Rev. Joseph 
Willard was dismissed in 1822. 

LITCHFIELD. We are inform- 
ed by an obliging friend, that Rev. 
Samuel Cotton waa ordained Jan, 
2, 1765. 

Londonderry. Rev. j^homas 
Thompson [Dr. Belknap says Al- 
exand,er : We follow Rev. Mr. 
Parker's century sermon.] died 
Sept. 22,1738. 

Nelsou. Rev. Gad JVeivell 
was ordained June 11, 1794. 

NEWiJfGTON'. The age of Re'v. 



270 



NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER. 



Mr. Adams is stated, on the au- 
thority of our correspondent, to be 
95. Dr. Belknap says 93. 

New-Ipswich. Hon. Eben- 
EzerChamtney died Sept. 1810, 
aged 67. The late Jesse Apple- 
ton, D. D., President of Bowdoin 
«ollege, was a native of this town. 
He was son of Mr. Francis Apple- 
ton, a descendant of John Appleton, 
Esq. of Waldingfield, in Suffolk, 
England, who died in 1436. Dr. A. 
was born Nov. 17, 1772; died at 
Brunswick, Nov. 12, 1819. He was 
one of the greatest theologians 
which N. H. has produced. 

NEw-LoNDO?f. There have been 
some alterations of the limits of 
this town since the survey was 
made. We are informed by Mr. 
Colby, that the superficial content 
is but 14,000 acres. 

New-Market. Winthrop 
Hilton, of this town, an active 
and useful officer of the militia, 
was killed by the fall of a tree in 
Northwood, Jan. 11, 1775. Mr. 
Hilton was descended from the 
first Edward Hilton, who came 
froKi London to N. H., in 1623, and 
.settled at Dover ; afterwards re- 
moved to Exeter, where h& died in 
1671. Four of bis sons, Edward, 
William, Samuel and Charles, were 
his administrators. Edward, prob- 
ably his oldest son, married into 
the family of Gov. Thomas Dud- 
ley. He died in 1699, leaving 
three sons, Winthrop, Dudley and 
Joseph, and four daughters. Win 
throp was born about 1671 ; was a 
man of great worth and respecta- 
bility. [See a memoir of him in 
Hist. Coll. for 1822, page 241— 
251.] He was killed by the Indians, 
June 23, 1710. Winthrop, a post- 
humous, and his only son, \va.s born 
Dec. 21, 1710. He was father to 
Winthrop at the head of this article. 
Another son^vas Ichabod, who died 
m Murch, 1822, aged 82. 



Northwood. Rev. Eliphalet 
Merrill was ordained Oct. 31, 1804. 

Pembroke. For "and on the 
Soucook," read and on it, [the 
Suncook.] Richard Bartlett, 
Esq. was an eminent physician in 
this town and several years its rep- 
esentative in the N. H. legisla- 
ture. He was a descendant from 
John Bartlett, the great ancestor of 
the respectable name of Bartlett 
in N. H. and Mass., and was of 
the same lineage with Gov. Bart- 
lett. He was born March 23, 1743 ; 
died Aug. 5, 1805, aged 62. 

PliAlNFlELD. The ministers, 
though arranged as furnished us by 
the late Mr. Read, are not placed 
correctly. Of the 2d church, (Me- 
riden parish) there hav^ been 
three pastors, viz. Rev. Siloam 
Short, Rev. David Dickinson, and 
Rev. Dana C'layes, who were set- 
tled at the tinaes mentioned. 

Raymond. This town was orig- 
inally that part of Chester called 
Frcetovm ; " Charmingfare" be- 
ing the former name of Candia. 

RiNDGE. Rev. SethPayson, 
was Vice-President, not President, 
of the N. H. bible society. He 
was a senator in the legislature of 
N. H. in 1802 and 1803. 

Sandwich. Tliis township, 
granted originally to Nicholas Gil- 
man, J. T. Gilman, and others of 
Exeter, was settled in 1768, by 
Daniel Beede, John Prescott, Da- 
vid Bean, Jeremiah Page, Richard 
Sinclair and others. Rev. Jacob 
Jewett was settled about 1780 over 
a baptist society here ; left the 
town in 1806; returned again in 
1812 ; and died a few years since. 

Walpole. The congregation- 
al church was formed June 10, 
1761, at which time Rev. Jonathan 
Leavitt, who graduated at Yale col- 
lege iii 1758, was ordained He 
was dismissed in June, 1763. 



ajiflentilp. 



PoprLATioN of the several towns in the state of New-Hampshire, in 

1775, 1790, 1800, 1810, and 1820. 

[Those having a o annexed, are post-toAvns ; and their number denotes the 
number of post-offiees.] 



TOWNS. 


Population. 


__. 


Present JVame. 


Former JVame. 


nib 


1790|1800 


1810|1820 


Acworth 






704 


1376 


152S 


1479 


Adams 








180 


244 


363 


Alexandria 




137 


298 


303 


409 


707 


Allenstown 




149 


254 


315 


346 


433 


Alstead o 


Newtown 


317 


1111 


1666 


1694 


1611 


Alton o 


New-Durham Gore 


100 


445 


721 


1279 


2058 


Amherst ° 


Souhegan-West 


1428 


2369 


1470 


1554 


1622 


Andover ° 


New-Breton 


179 


645 


1133 


1259 


1642 


Antrim ° 


Society Land 




528 


1059 


1277 


1330 


Atkinson 


Part of Haverhill 


575 


479 


474 


556 


563 


Barnstead ° 




262 


807 


1161 


1477 


1805 


Barrington o 




1655 


2470 


2773 


3564 


1610 


Bartlett «> 






248 


548 


436 


511 


Bath o 




144 


498 


825 


1316 


1498 


Bedford o 


Souhegan-East 


495 


898 


1182 


1296 


1375 


Bethlehem 








171 


422 


467 


Boscawen ° 


Contoocook 


585 


1108 


1414 


1829 


2113 


Bow 




350 


668 


719 


729 


935 


Bradford ° 


New-Bradford 




217 


740 


1034 


1318 


Brentwood 


Part of Exeter 


1100 


976 


899 


905 


892 


Bretton-Woods 








18 


12 


19 


Bridgewater 






asi 


664 


1104 


727 


Bristol o 


Part of Bridgewater 










675 


Brookfield 








504 


657 


690 


Brookline 


Raby 




338 


454 


538 


592 


Burton 






141 


264 


194 


209 


Cambridge 














Campton o 




190 


395 


635 


873 


1047 


Canaan ° 




67 


483 


835 


1094 


1198 


Candia ° 


Charmingfare 


744 


1040 


1186 


1290 


1273 


Canterbury ° 




723 


1038 


1114 


1526 


1696 


Centre-Harbor o 








263 


349 


486 


Chatham 






58 


183 


201 


298 


Charlestown ° 


Number 4 


594 


1093 


1364 


1501 


1702 


Chester ° 


Cheshire 


1599 


1902 


2046 


2030 


2202 


Chesterfield <=> 


Number 1 


874 


1905 


2161 


1839 


2110 


Chicheste* <5 




418 


491 


775 


951 


1010 


Clareraont ® 




523 


1435 


1889 


2094 


2290 



272 



APPENDIX. 



TOWNS. 1 


Population. 


Present JVame. 


Former JVame. 


1775|1790 


1800|1810|1820j 


Ck)lebi-ook ° 


Colbume 


4 


29 


160 


3251 469 


Columbia ° 


Cockburne 


14 


26 


109 


142 


2491 


COiVCORDO 


Penacook. Rumford 


1052 


1747 


2052 


2393 


28381 


Concord ° 


Gunthwaite 


47 


313 


663 


1126 


1126 


Conway o 


Pequawkett 


273 


574 


705 


1080 


1365 


Cornish ° 




309 


982 


1268 


1606 


1701 


Coventry 






88 


69 


162 


315 


Croydon 




143 


537 


984 


864 


1060 


Dal ton o 


Apihorp 


50 


14 


62 


235 


347 


D anbury 






111 


165 


345 


467 


Deerfieldoo 




929 


1619 


1878 


1851 


2133 


Deering o « 


Society Land 




928 


1244 


1363 


1415 


Dixville 










12 


2 


Dorchester 


Part of Nottingham 




175 


349 


537 


584 


Dover ° 


Cocheco. Northam 


1666 


1998 


2062 


2228 


2871 


Dublin 


Monadnock, No. 2 


305 


901 


1188 


1184 


1620 


Dummer 










7 


27 


Dunbarton o 


Starks-Tovvn 


497 


917 


1222 


1256 


1450 


Durhajii o 


Oyster River 


1214 


1247 


1126 


1449 


1538 


Dunstable o 




705 


632 


862 


1049 


1142 


Durand 










62 


78 


East Kingston 


Part of Kingston 


428 


358 


392 


442 


443 


Eaton ° 






253 


381 


535 


1071 


Effingham o 


Leavitt's Town 


83 


154 


451 


876 


1368 


Ellsworth 


Treeothick 






47 


142 


213 


Enfield o 


Relhan 


50 


724 


1121 


1291 


1370 


Epping o 


Part of Exeter 


1569 


1233 


1121 


1182 


1158 


Epsom ° 




387 


799 


1034 


1156 


1336 


Errol 










38 


26 


Exfter o 


Swamfcot-FaJls 


1741 


1722 


1727 


1759 


2114 


Farmington o 


Part of Rochester 






1029 


1272 


1716 


Fishersfield o 




130 


331 


526 


563 


874 


Fitzwilliara.o 


Monadnock, No. 4 




1038 


1240 


1301 


U67 


France stown o 




200 


982 


1855 


1451 


1479 


Fraaconia° 


Morristown 


29 


72 


129 


358 


373 


Gilford o 


Part of GilmantOH 










1!T16 


GilmanioHO<=°o 




775 


2613 


3752 


4338 


3752 


Gilsum 


Boyle 


178 


298 


484 


513 


601 


Goffstovrn o 




831 


1275 


1612 


2000 


2173 


Goshen <* 








383 


563 


68? 


Gosport 


Appledore 


44 


93 


85 


72 


66 


Grafton 






403 


682 


931 


1094 


Grantham 


New^-Granlham 


74 


333 


713 


864 


1032 


Greenfield ° 








934 


980 


974 


GreenLand « 


Part of PortsmoutJi 


759 


634 


548 


592 


634 


jGroton 


'Cocker mouth 


118 


373 


391 


549 


686 





APPEISDIX. 










273 




TOWNS. j 


Populatio7i. j 


Present jXame. 


Forme r JVanie. j 1 7 7 5 } 


1790|1800jl8101 


1820 


Hampstead ^ Timber-Lane, &c. [ 


768 


724 


790 


738 


"^"51 


Hampton ^ 


Winicumet 


862 


853 


875 


990 


1098 


Hampton-FaHs o ] 


Part of Hampton 


645 


541 


519 


570 


572 


Hanover o 




434 1380J 


1912 


2135 


2222 


[Hancock ° 


1 




634 


1120 


1184 


1178 


Haverhill o Lower Cohos j 


365 


552 


805 


1105 


1609 


Hawke Part of Kingston 1 


504 


420 


389 


412 


421 


Hebron 


IJockermouth 






281 


563 


572 


Henniker° 


Number 6 


367 


1127 


1476 


1608 


1900 


Hillsborough ^ 


'dumber 7 

FortDummer 

New-Holderness 




798 


1311 


1592 


1982 


Hinsdale o 




522 


634 


740 


890 


Holderness ° 


172 


329 


531 


835 


1160 


Hollis o 


NissitJssit 


1255 


1441 


1557 


1529 


1543 


Hooksetto 


Isle of Hookset 












Hopkinton ° 


New-Hopkinton 


1085 


1715 


2015 


■2216 


2437 


Jaffrey ° 


Monadnock, No. 3 


351 


1235 


1341 


1336 


1339 


Jefferson ° 


Dartmouth 






112 


197 


252 


Keene ° 


Upper Ashuelot 


756 


1314 


1645 


1646 


1895 


Kensington 


Part of Hampton 


797 


800 


776 


781 


709 


Kilkenny 








18 


28 


24 


Kingston ^ 




961 


906 


785 


746 


847 


Lancaster ° 


Upper Cohos 


611 161 


440 


717 


844 


Landaff 




40 


292 


461 


650 


769 


Langdon ° 






244 


484 


632 


654 


Lebanon ° 




347 


1180 


1574 


1808 


1710 


Leeo 




95411029 


978 


1329 


1224 


Lempster ° 


Dupplin 


128 


415 


729 


854 


950 


Lime ° 




252 


816 


1318 


1670 


1824 


Lincoln 






22 


41 


100 


32 


Litchfield 


Brent.on's Farm 


284 


357 


372 


382 


465 


Littleton o o 


Chiswick, &c. 




96 


381 


873 


1096 


Londonderry ° 


Nutfield 


2590 


2622 


2650 


2766 


•3127 


Loudon o 


Part of Canterbury 


349 


1084 


1279 


1472 


1694 


Lyman 




i 202 


534 


948 


1270 


Lyndeborough ° 


Salem Canatla 


733,1280 


976 


1074 


1168 


Madbiiry 


Part of Dover 


6771 592 


544 


582 


559 


Manchester 


Hajry-Tov/n 


285 362 


557 


615 


761 


Marlborough o 


Mdnadncck, No. 5 


322! 786 


1185 


1142 


766 


Marlow ° 


1 ^ 


207,' 313 


543 


566 


697 


Mason 


Number 1 


501 


922 


1179 


1077 


1313 


Maynesborough 














Meredith oo 


New- Salem 


259 


881 


1609 


1940 


2416 


Merrimack o o 


Souhegan-East 


606 


819 


926 


1048 


1162 


Middleton 




238 


617 


431 


439 


482 


Milfordo 


Mile Slip, &c. 






939 


1117 


1243 


Milton 


Part of Rochester 






11005 


1232 


Millsfield 










i 





274 



APPENDIX. 



TOWNS. 


Population. j 


Present JSTame. | 


Former JVame. 


177511790 


1800|1810 


1820 


Mont-Vernon 


Part of Amherst 






680 


762 


729 


Moultonborough ° 




272 


565 


857 


994 


1279 


Nelson ° 


Packersfield 


186 


721 


977 


1076 


907 


New-Boston ° 


Lane's New-Boston 


569 


1202 


1491 


1619 


1686 


New-Castle 


Great Island 


449 


534 


524 


592 


932 


New-Chester o 




196 


312 


615 


895 


971 


New-Durham ° 




286 


554 


742 


888 


1168 


New-Hampton ° ° 


Moultonborough Add. 




652 


1095 


1293 


1500 


Newington 




332 


542 


481 


508 


541 


New-Ipswich ° 


Ipswich-Canada 


960 


1241 


1266 


1395 


1278 


New-London ° 


Dantzick 




311 


617 


692 


924 


New-Market o 


Part of Exeter 


1289 


1137 


1027 


1061 


1033 


Newport '^ 




157 


780 


1266 


1427 


167^ 


Newtown 




540 


530 


450 


454 


477 


Northfield 


Part of Canterbury 




606 


925 


1057 


1304 


Nortii-Hampton ° 


Part of Hampton 


652 


657 


653 


651 


764 


Northumberland 




57 


117 


205 


281 


205 


Northwood ° 


Part of Nottingham 


313 


744 


950 


1095 


1260 


Nottingham ° 




999 


1068 


964 


1063 


1126 


Nottingham.- West o 


Part of Dunstable 


649 


1064 


1267 


1376 


1227 


Orange 


Cardigan 




131 


203 


229 


298 


Orford 




222 


540 


988 


1265 


1568 


Ossipee ° 


New-Garden 


26 


339 


1143 


1330 


1988 


Paulsburgh 










14 


57 


Peeling 


Fairfield 






83 


203 


224 


Pelham ° 




749 


791 


918 


998 


1040 


Pembroke ° 


guncook 


744 


956 


982 


1153 


1256 


Peterborough ° 


• 


546 


861 


1333 


1537 


1500 


Piercy 






48 


140 


211 


218 


Piermont o 




168 


426 


670 


877'1016| 


Pittsfield o 


Part of Chichester 




888 


987 


1050 


1178 


Plainfield ° 




308 


1024 


1435 


1463 


1460 


Plaistow 


Part of Haverhill 


575 


521 


459 


424 


492 


Plymouth «^ 




382 


625 


743 


937 


983 


Poplin <5 


Part of Exeter 


552 


493 


408 


4621 453] 


Portsmouth «> 


Pascataquack 


4590 


4720 


5339 


6934 


7327 


Raymond <=■ 


Freetown 


683 


727 


808 


898 


961 


Richmond ° 




864 


1380 


1390 


1290 


13911 


Rindge ° 


Rowley-Canada 


542 


1143 


1196 


1226 


1298 


Rochester ° 




1548 


2857 


2646 


2118 


2471 


Roxbury 












366 


Rumney o 




237 


411 


624 


765 


864 


Rye 


Sandy Beach 


870 


865 


890 


1020 


1127 


Salem o 


Part of Methuen, Ms. 


1084 


1218 


1077 


1179 


1311 


Salisbury © o 


Stevens' Town 


498 


1372 


1767 


1913 


2016 


SanborntonO® 




459 


1587 


2695 


2834 


3329 


Sandown 


Part of KingstOH 


459 


561 


501 


504 


527 



APPENDIX. 



275 



TOWNS. 



Present JVarne. 



Former JVame. 



Population. 



1775 1790|1800| 1810 1820 



(Sandwich^ 
jSeabrook 
Sharon 
jShelburne 
iSociety-Land 
jSomersworth 
South Hampton 
I Springfield ° 
jStewartstown 

Stoddard ° 
iStrafford => 
I Stratford ° 
IStratham ° 
jSuccess 

Sullivan 
i Surry ° 

Sutton o 

Swanzey ° 

Tamworth ° ° 

Temple ° 

Thornton ° 

Tuftonborough 

Troy 

jUnity o 

1 Wakefield o 

Walpole ° o 
lWarren° 

Warner ° 

Washington ° 

Weare ^ o 

Wendell 

Wentworth ° 

Westmoreland '^ 

Whirefield 

Wilmot 

Wilton o 

Winchester ° 

Windham o 

Windsor 

jWolfeborough ° 



Part of Hampton 



Part of Dove I 

Part of Hampton 

Protectworth 

Stewart 

Limerick 

Part of Barrington 

IWinnicot 



Perry 's-Town 
Lower Ashuelot 

Peterborough Slip 



East-town 
Bellows' Town 

New-Amesbury 
Camden 
Hale's Town 

Savilie 

Great Meadow 

Whitefields 

Kearsarge 

Arlington 

Part of Londonderry 

ICampbell's Gora 



243 
607 



905 
715 

259 

31 

1771 319 

965 943 

4981 448 

I 210 

2241 701 

4ll 146 
1137 882 



215 

G47 
151 
491 



146 
320 
6, 

^262 

163 

837 

65 

756 



220 
448 
520 
1157 
266 
747 
385 
109 

538 
646 

1245 
206 
863 
545 

1924 
267 
241 

2018 



1413 
628 
428 
45 
146 
932 
387 
570 
99 

1148 

281 
890 

488 
569 
878 
1271 
757 
867 
535 
357 

902 
835 

1743 
336 

1569 
819 

2517 
355 
488 

2066 



2232 



446 
176 
199 
878 
427 
614 
186 



2368 
885 
391 
205 
153 
841 
416 
967 
363 



1132 1203 
2144 



632 1105 
238 1209 
529 663 
120 
2111 447 



1010 

1413 

751 

249 

941 



339 
874 

516 

564 

1328 

1400 

1134 

941 

794 

709 

1044 
1166 
1894 

506 
1838 

820 
2634 

447 

645 

1937 

51 

298 
1017 
1478 

742 

238 
1376 



33 

892 

582 

570 

1573 

1716 

1442 

752 

857 

1232 

676 

1277 

1518 

2020 

544 

2246 

992 

2781 

603 

807 

2029 

281 

670 

1070 

1849 

889 

237 1 

1794 



RECAPITULATION BY COUNTIES. 



Rockingham 

Strafford 

Hillsboi'ougli 

Ciieshire 

Grafton 

Coos 



1775 


1790 


18»0 


1810 


1820 


37,463 


43,169 


45,427 


50,175 


55,246 


12,513 


23,742 


32,878 


41,595 


51,117 


15,986 


32,871 


43,899 


49,249 


53,884 


10,252 


28,77 r 


38,325 


40,988 


45,376 


3,597 


12,42g 


20,17i; 28,462 


32,989 


227 


882 


2,658 


3,991 


5,549 



Total 180,033* jl41,885] 183,855 214,46012 14,161| 

* To this number ought to be added 2162, for Locations and Gores, not 
«"i (idcd ia the above aggregate, making the totai in 1775, 82,200. Seep. 27. 



276 APPENDIX. 



j^Teivspajpers and other periodical journals^ fublislied in Ports- 
mouth, JV". H. 

NEWSPAPERS. 

J^ew- Hampshire Gazette and Historical C/irontcZ<!, commenced Oct. 7, 
1756, by Daniel Fowle, who continued to publisli it until 1784, Avith 
the exception of one year commencing May 25, 1776. On the 25th 
May, 1776, it assumed the title of "The Freeman's Journal, or N. 
H. Gazette," and retained this title about a y&ar ; after which it was 
called the " New-Hampshire Gazette, or State Jourwal and General 
Advertiser." Its publishers were successively, John Melcher ; N. S. 
and W. Peirce ; Peirce, Hill andPeirce ; Peirce and Gardner; Wil- 
liam Weeks. Since Dec. 14, 1813, it has been published by Beck 
and Foster, and is called J\''eiv-Hampshire Gazette. 

The New-Hampshire Mercury and Weekly Advertiser, was commen- 
ced in 1765, by Furber and Russell, and contiriied2 years. 

The N. H. Mercury and General Advertiser, by ilo*bert Gerrish, com- 
menced 1784, and continued 4 or 5 years. . *\ 

The New-Hampshire Spy was commenced about 17^7^ by George Jerry 
Osborne, and publisiied most of the time semi-weekly until 1793. 

Portsmouth Oracle, commenced June 4, 1793, and was published twice 
a week by Charles Peirce until Jan. 1796. Its subsequent proprie- 
tors were William and Daniel TieadwcU ; William Treadwell to 
Sept, 1813; Charles Taj ell from Sept. 25, 1813, to July 1821. Its title 
was then changed to Portsmouth Journal of Literature and Politics. 

The Federal Observer -was commenced Nov. 22, 1798, by William 
Treadwell and Samuel Hart ; discontinued June 12, 1300. 

Republican Ledger, established Aug. 31, 1799, by George J. Osborne, 
and afterwards published by Nutting and Whitelock ; discontinued 
Dec. 27, 1803. 

Political Star, by M. J. de Rochemont, from June to Oct. 31, 1804. 

The Intelligencer, by Samuel Whidden, from Dec. 1806, to May, 1817. 

The Literary Mirror, by Stephen Sewall, commenced Feb. 10, 180S, 
and discontinued Feb. 11, 1809, 

War Journal, by Beck and Fester, from March 13, to Dec. 10, 1813. 

People's Advocate, by Weeks and Drown, from Nov. 19, 1816, to May 
17, 1817. 

JVovaior and Independent Expositor, by Samuel Whidden, (first called 
Paraclete and Tickler) commenced in 1822. 

RELIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS. 

The Piscataqua Evangelical Magazine, published by Wm. and Daniel 
Treadweli.commenced Jan. l,l'805,and wag issued once in 2 months for 
about 1 year. Was afterwards published at Amherst by Joseph Gushing. 

Herald of Gospel Liberty, by Elias Smith, commenced May 12, 1815, 
and continued until Sept. of that year. 

Christian Herald, hy Rohen Foster, commenced May, 1818; and is 
published in Saw. size, 8 Nos. in a year. 



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